In John B. Calhoun's early crowding experiments, rats were supplied with everything they needed -except space. The result was a population boom, followed by such severe psychological disruption that the animals died off to extinction. The take-home message was that crowding resulted in pathological behaviourin rats and by extension in humans. For those pessimistic about Earth's "carrying capacity," the macabre spectacle of this "behavioural sink" was a compelling symbol of the problems awaiting

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... overpopulation. Calhoun's work enjoyed considerable popular success. But cultural influence can run both ways. In this paper, we look at how the cultural impact of Calhoun's experiments resulted in a simplified, popular version of his work coming to overshadow the more nuanced and positive message he wanted to spread, and how his professional reputation was affected by this popular "success."