Results for “Robin Dunbar”

It seems, to me, that relationships are face to face things. There is no point in having a virtual relationship if you are never going to see those individuals again as it crowds your 'mental boxes'. To think of this in context, they are real cognitive limits.

Evolutionary Psychologist Known for Dunbar's Number Theory

You are surrounded by an endless series of expanded layers of social networks. Your inner core is 5, which extends to 50-150, 500 and eventually out to around 1500. As you go out through the networks, the number of people included increases, the average quality of these relationships declines.

Evolutionary Psychologist Known for Dunbar's Number Theory

It turns out, though, very clearly, that our social networks are no larger in virtual worlds than in reality. The people you have on your network are the people you would typically keep into contact with in reality, face to face. The difference is, though, that you get lots of 'hangers on' appearing on your network.

Evolutionary Psychologist Known for Dunbar's Number Theory

There is something about the female psyche which is intensely social, and the most trivial conversations become part of the process of bonding. This perhaps is what causes the difference in message in sms, facebook, etc. They may appear trivial (e.g. I'm here, doing this) but there will be a lot more un-stated below the surface (i.e. I'm here talking to YOU and I'm happy to be talking to you rather than someone else) A form of commitment.

Evolutionary Psychologist Known for Dunbar's Number Theory

The bottom line is that this goes back to the fact that, like all primates, we are an intensely social species, and having our friends, cohorts, and acquaintances close is important to our general success. In these senses 'keeping the wheels oiled' is critical, hence why we like gossip, and hence why biographies and fiction so wildly outsell anything else in the books market.

Evolutionary Psychologist Known for Dunbar's Number Theory

If you imagine the archetypal social environment we have, probably until the beginning of the twentieth century, we saw our network, our community, every day. If a relative emigrated, we lost track of them very quickly and the family link disappeared as it was a very 'up front' person to person relationship.

Evolutionary Psychologist Known for Dunbar's Number Theory

There is something about the female psyche which is intensely social, and the most trivial conversations become part of the process of bonding. They may appear trivial but there will be a lot more un-stated below the surface - a form of commitment.

Evolutionary Psychologist Known for Dunbar's Number Theory

Modern society, specifically the modern economy, is very mobile. Our friendships and social networks become very quickly dispersed. At any one time, we build friendships and relationships with people and, for example, due to work, move on.

Evolutionary Psychologist Known for Dunbar's Number Theory

Like all primates, we are an intensely social species, and having our friends, cohorts, and acquaintances close is important to our general success. In these senses 'keeping the wheels oiled' is critical, hence why we like gossip, and hence why biographies and fiction so wildly outsell anything else in the books market.

Evolutionary Psychologist Known for Dunbar's Number Theory

So far from being a separate evolutionary lineage with deep roots, we humans were in fact embedded within the great ape family. Humans are now, strictly speaking, firmly ensconced within the chimpanzee family.

Evolutionary Psychologist Known for Dunbar's Number Theory