Introduces this special issue devoted to the psychology of urban life by explaining the two approaches of study, the ecological and the sociostructural, and by briefly describing each paper presented. (MA)

This paper briefly discusses three studies aimed at exploring the overload hypothesis posited by Stanley Milgram. That hypothesis suggests that impoverished social interaction in the city is an adaptation to overload of interpersonal contacts. The three studies examine various aspects of the phenomenon using different methodologies. Comparing city…

Suggests that human adaptations to urban overload create characteristic qualities of city life that can be measured. Studies are cited which offer insights into (1) the behavior patterns of city-dwellers, (2) their perception of social responsibility, (3) the "atmosphere" of great cities, (4) the tempo of life, and (5) cognitive maps of cities.…

A random household survey of 569 African-American adults in Oakland and 568 in San Francisco (California) indicates a high prevalence of smoking (41.9 percent), with smoking more likely by those reporting high stress. Stressful environment may contribute to high-risk smoking behavior among urban African Americans. (SLD)