Singaporeans have become less materialistic and more family-focused in the last 10 years but are no happier, according to a survey conducted by NUS. Commenting on the findings, SMU Associate Professor of Psychology Christie Scollon said that the world was moving towards post-familialism. Evolutionary theorists posit that humans have evolved to thrive in villages or tribes of about 70 people, many of these extended family, she said. “Modern life is a bit of a paradox because we often know far more than 70 people - for example, through Facebook - and at the same time, far fewer, in that the people we do associate with don't really know us well.” This "mismatch" could explain the rise in depression rates, among other things,” she added.