Lewis Thomas's "The Iks" is based on a small tribe known as the Iks that go from normal characteristics to abnormal characteristics because of society. Society is extremely harsh towards the Iks and this causes them to rebel. According to Thomas all of us have the potential to become like the Iks but the Iks went over board and did not control their reactions enough. Nations are more like the Iks than cities are because the characteristics of the Iks are more common among nations. I agree with Thomas's argument for the reason that when humans are in larger groups then it is harder to control our behaviors and it is also easier to get influenced by society. .
Peer pressure affects society especially teenagers. I find it easier to reject peer pressure when I am in smaller groups because there is less influence. According to Thomas, "we haven't yet learned how to stay human when assembled in masses." For example, if you are in a larger group there will be more people to force you to do something that one might not want to do in the first place. I never thought that I would ever smoke a cigarette, but I was forced to by my friends because of peer pressure. In order to not be rejected by society, people tend to go with the flow and this is why so many people have bad habits like smoking. In large groups it will be hard to not go with the norm otherwise one will feel isolated. .
The Iks are influenced greatly by society to a point of insanity. Society caused the Iks to change their characteristics. According to Thomas, nations are more like the Iks because nations have more people than cities. The more people the greater the influence. Nations are selfish and self centered much like The Iks. The iks, "they are bizarre, anomalous." Their characteristics changed mainly because society influenced them greatly.
The Iks were greatly affected and influenced by society in a negative way.