Read the passage below:
In his seminal analyses of turn-of-the-century urban life, sociologist Georg Simmel argued that the relentless sensory stimulation of the metropolis forces individuals to adopt a protective psychological detachment. Far from indicating mere indifference, this posture of reserve is a calculated response to avoid total emotional exhaustion. According to Simmel, the psychic economy of the city dweller is perpetually informed by the need to regulate external inputs. The rapid pace and visual density of metropolitan existence require a continuous filtering of social encounters, transforming potential overstimulation into a manageable routine. Thus, spatial proximity in the modern city paradoxically fosters interpersonal distance, as urbanites cultivate an intellectualized defense mechanism against the overwhelming immediacy of their surroundings.
In the context of the passage, what single word best replaces 'informed' as used in the third sentence without altering the meaning?
Answer: shaped / conditioned / pervaded / influenced / animated / guided / molded