The purpose of fences is easy to understand—protect the people inside, keep strangers outside. However, the reason why we built fences in the first place is a little less obvious. The information contained in this article will give you a deeper understanding about the psychology of fences and why just about everyone in Carlsbad, NM seems to have one these days.
Protect the pack
You’ve probably heard of the saying, “there’s safety in numbers.” Since the beginning of the human race, this sentiment has proven true. We’re social creatures who want to protect our tribes because they, in turn, protect us as well. Evolution has led us to adopt the custom of building fences around our property because it creates a safe space for our nuclear family. It sends a signal to passersby that they’re not welcome without an invitation.
Fences establish a central hub that sets your pack apart from everyone else. Every homeowner in Carlsbad, NM knows property comes with title boundaries, but some prefer to emphasize those boundaries with tangible representations like a fence. Even to this day, it’s ingrained in our brains to believe that strangers wandering into our territory pose a threat.
Change is scary
People build fences out of mere habit. Fences have been a part of human society for thousands of years and aren’t disappearing anytime soon. A famous psychologist named Erik Erikson once said there’s a strong association between identity and ideology. If our ideology changes, so does our identity. Humans feel very uncomfortable when they experience an “identity crisis,” which is why we avoid changing our ideology at all cost.
Tearing down all the fences would force a new ideology upon us and get rid of the old. The current psychology of fences dictates that we have a right to hoard property. Just imagine the chaos that would ensue if homeowners woke up one day only to see their sense of privacy was taken away. To put it simply, we don’t want to get rid of the white-picket fences in our front yards because we’ve grown used to them.
Keep out danger
Survival instincts largely contribute to the psychology of fences. The sad reality is that there have been people in Carlsbad, NM who invaded someone else’s property in order to steal their possessions or cause bodily harm. It’s impossible to know the intentions of every single person who walks down the street, so our instincts assume everyone is a threat until proven otherwise.
Assuming the worst from our neighbors isn’t the healthiest mindset, but it’s the only way to guarantee our safety. Fences provide a 24/7 barrier to keep out unwanted visitors given the off chance someone attempts to invade our property. This custom has endured the test of time because it’s proven to work.
Of course, a fence isn’t going to work if it’s damaged or suffers from a poor installation. The contractors at Guadalupe Mountain Fencing LLC offer high-quality handiwork for both residential and commercial purposes so you can protect what matters most. Contact us to learn more about our premium fencing materials!