There are many benefits to growing up in a small town. Small communities allow people to become acquainted, acquire a sense of security and familiarity. Although there may be many apparent positive aspects to smaller towns, people often living in acquire what is called a 'small town mentality'. This can be described as a unified way of thinking and behaving. Individuality and diversity are suppressed while town's people begin to conform to traditionalistic views and stereotypes. Ways in which this small town mentality affects human behaviour are discussed in Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, and Morley Callaghan's Two Fishermen. In The Lottery, violence and inhumanity occur due to societal pressures based on tradition. In Two Fishermen societal pressures deter the towns people from befriending outsiders.
             First of all random stoning of individuals is a result of inhumane actions and pointless violence. Societies pressures did not allow individuals to say no, to the traditional lottery because of possible fearful aftermath. People notice a lot in small towns; therefore your absence is much noticed and not well appreciated. All it takes for bad gossip to go around about you is one person who is careless. When it comes down to it people are afraid of being labeled by society as an outcast, someone who is different because of what they do. In the end, the pressure from society in the Lottery prevails and you end up participating in the stoning.
             Lastly, the society of the short story, Two Fishermen alters each individuals human behaviour with fear. The fear is what might come of me after the hangman is gone. Fear of the consequences if I associate myself with him. The group mentality pressures the fear into the eyes of anyone who dares to collaborate with Smitty. The people of the small town have to understand, that if you are going to open up to the hangman, you're going to have to live with the gossip of your name going ...