"Keeping up with the Joneses" is an idiom in many parts of the English-speaking world referring to the comparison to one's neighbor as a benchmark for social class or the accumulation of material goods. To fail to "keep up with the Joneses" is perceived as demonstrating socio-economic or cultural inferiority. - WikipediaThe suburban home gets up the worst in human behaviour, growing the dark side of the force! (the handicap principle). It's all perfectly described in Terje Bongard's book "The Biological Human Being".
- Today’s new homes are 1,000 square feet larger than in 1973, and the living space per person has doubled over last 40 years
The alternative to this madness is of course building pocket neighborhoods, where the good side of the force can thrive in an in-group setting!
- Better Together: Small House Living Thrives in a Community
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| An in-group growing the bright side of the force, with small houses forming a small house cluster gathered around common land. McMansions don't give status in an in-group setting! |
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| See Nate Hagens talk about human behavior ecology and the "Joneses" from 37 minutes here. Or from 27 minutes here. |
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