Urbanism is a term used by sociologist Louis Wirth to denote the distinctive characteristics of social life that emerge in urban settings, particularly in large, densely populated cities, such as a greater degree of impersonality, anonymity, social heterogeneity, and a more complex division of labor compared to rural areas. Wirth argued that the size, density, and heterogeneity of urban populations shape the nature of social interactions and the social psychology of city dwellers, often leading to more formal and instrumental relationships, increased social tolerance for diversity, and a greater sense of individual freedom alongside potential feelings of social isolation or alienation. The study of urbanism explores how these unique social patterns and experiences in cities differ from those in more rural or traditional communities.