Urban Sociology, Human Ecology, and Urban Health

The city we live in is not merely a space where our daily movements and actions take place; it is also an environment that shapes our personality and behavior, as Georg Simmel and Louis Wirth have emphasized. Research in environmental sociology and environmental psychology reveals the effects of space on humans, demonstrating how ecological factors' psychological aspects influence individuals. Furthermore, it has been scientifically proven that poor spatial conditions play a significant role in the emergence of physical and mental health problems. This book examines this process within a historical framework while also presenting important texts on large cities and human health.

Environmental pollution, traffic congestion, housing shortages, slum development, unemployment, and accessibility of social services, all brought about by urbanization, are among the most visible problems in today's cities. Moreover, the dense and intertwined living of individuals from different cultures leads to erosion of socio-cultural values, increased crime rates, suicides, disintegration of family structures, and numerous negative consequences threatening individuals' physical and mental health. This situation has made urban sociology and urban social psychology increasingly comprehensive and important disciplines addressing issues related to city and urbanization processes.

This book aims to guide the reader on urbanization and urban ecology by addressing fundamental problems in urban theory and approaches to their solutions. Examining the effects of urbanization on individuals and society from sociological and psychological perspectives, this work is an important reference for those working in urban planning, sociology, and human ecology, as well as interested readers.