Why the Internet Won’t Get You Any More Friends
Social media promises us an ever-expanding circle of friends, but that may be an empty promise. Social behavior is firmly rooted in biology, and our brains are hard-wired to maintain meaningful relationships with only about 150 people. Evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar formulated “Dunbar’s Number” to measure the cognitive limit of our social circles – Facebook “friends” and Twitter “followers” notwithstanding. Dunbar will explore how our brains have evolved to support the complex social structures that ensure our survival, and how the size of those groups is defined by our DNA, suggesting real limits not only to our personal relationships, but to the size and capacity of every community in which we participate.
Robin Dunbar, Director, Social and Evolutionary Neuroscience Research Group, Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford
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SFI’s 2014 Community Lecture series is generously sponsored by Thornburg Investment Management