In the past several decades, we have seen a decline in birth rates not just in a few isolated regions, but worldwide. Japan and Korea are leading the charge, and Germany is just slightly behind. And if you want a more depressing example, look no further than the Slavic world, where they are drinking themselves to death or being sent to the Ukraine. According to JapanTimes, the nation's population is expected to decline by half, from 124 million to 63 million by the end of the century. This is not just a local issue but a global crisis that will affect all developed nations and have far-reaching consequences for undeveloped nations. The potential societal consequences are dire, from economic instability to a lack of caregivers for the elderly.
We have a growing population in America, but this is only due to immigration. We have a native-born American problem, although it is worth noting that going by numbers, more rural and conservative states have a higher birth rate than the rest. Many experts believe that we are choosing not to have children due to economic constraints, lack of room, or my all-time favorite, the climate crisis excuse. My refusal to all of that is simply that people like to breed even during times of crisis. So, if people are not reproducing, something else must be going on, something more profound.
From 1958 to 1962, a researcher named ethologist John B. Calhoun constructed a lab where Mice were provided ample space and resources. The goal of the experiment was to study overpopulation. I won't do a word-for-word breakdown of the experiment, but I encourage you to read about it. Here are the synapses. The mice bred and became overpopulated, and then they just stopped breeding, and then it got worse. Most male rats turned inward, focusing on grooming themselves, and female mice turned to cannibalism and killing their young. A few young male mice became even more aggressive and depraved. Remember that Mice and human beings have very similar brains thanks to our standard mammalian features. This comparison to the 'mouse Utopia experiment' is not to draw direct parallels, but to provoke critical thinking and reflection on our current societal trends.
I am writing this in early July of 2024, and the developed world is living in the mouse Utopia experiment. There are currently 8 billion people on the planet, and in many places throughout the developed world, populations are experiencing a steep demographic decline. Like the Mice, we have easy access to everything we need, and after the sexual revolution, anyone can obtain a partner, and yet marriage is in freefall along with childbirth. Is it possible that we are having an animalistic reaction and are instinctually choosing not to breed?
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