The CITY & the PSYCHE—A Chronology

This text takes a chronological approach to examining the literature concerning the impact of urban living on mental health, identifying two distinct generations of knowledge production on this topic: (1) the first generation: from philosophical speculation to empirical studies, and (2) the second generation: from city-centrism to embracing the complexity of context. The contrast between these generations is evident in the conceptualization of health and city, the methodologies utilized to examine health, the influence of global dynamics, the rural-urban ratio, and the technological and methodological progression. It is essential to consider that (1) there is a potential for bias in the text presented since the discussions drawn in a review depending on the results of the included studies and the authors’ expertise and access to information, and (2) the text follows a chronological order, and it has referenced existing literature according to their respective timelines. Consequently, specific discussions and literature may appear outdated by contemporary standards or the current state of the art but were pertinent at their time.