My theory is that the small functions motif appeared with practitioners of languages where the function is the only tool introducing a new scope / block for var

My theory is that the small functions motif appeared with practitioners of languages where the function is the only tool introducing a new scope / block for variable definitions. Languages like Python or Javascript. What about Smalltalk? In language where blocks can be introduced at will (stricter Algol descendants like Pascal/C/C++/Java) or are introduced by control structures, then the need for such rule is much less necessary, and only the harm done (friction, readability) by fragmenting and obscuring logic remains.