Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: xylar on 11/06/2009 12:46:03

Title: What are the advantages of being part of a social group?
Post by: xylar on 11/06/2009 12:46:03

What advantages does it offer an individual to belong to social groups? In early human days, social groups provided protection from predators, but how has it changed. I would they offer support, knowledge...

Would love to read some articles online about this topic.

Thanks

Title: Re: What are the advantages of being part of a social group?
Post by: graham.d on 11/06/2009 13:26:16

I think social groups would have been ultimately advantagious in aiding survival for individuals and their ability to preserve and multiply the group's gene pool. Because of this we have an in-built desire to be social animals. The disadvantage of this innate drive is that it leads to tribalism, both social and genetic. Where this has been advantagious in past times, it also leads to people being, at best nationalistic or avid football team supporters or, at worst, xenophobic and racist.