Cohesion of Groups
An idea occurred to me about group formation and what makes group last longer. Grouping is a natural tendency. We see it in fish schools, in ants and bees and birds with members exceeding tens of thousands. We see it in clusters of grapes and even in hairs coming out of dandelion seeds, but with groups of hair fixed around one hundred. Why not in thousands? This prompted me to search this tendency to grouping in more detail.
Groups in Nature
Some male birds group in thousand and dance to lure the females. It is the need to produce and survive that makes the birds perform the dance so that the females maybe attracted to the fittest among them.
Fish do the same as they perform mating dance. Bees do waggle dance to communicate to the thousands of their mates about a potential new hive location or a new-found source of food. Again, the bees have a purpose to group for it serves the interests of all members to find a rich food source. It is the trust of information that counts.
Birds gather in thousands in cold weather and keep abreast of each other so that they warm each other. This helps the birds survive the very cold weather. The birds also gather in large numbers because collectively they have less risk being attacked by predators. Survival is a key factor again. The birds also flight in thousands following simple rules so that they may not collide with each other. They benefit from lessening the effort to fly. Again, the interest of staying within the group is safer than flying alone. No wonder very few birds, if any, defects.
A dark flock of dunlins dashes straight over a wetland—until a merlin appears and they all turn at the same moment, flashing their bright white under parts and rearranging their group into an hourglass shape with shocking swiftness. This way they confuse the predators. It is the flashing of thousands of them that make each individual feel safe.
Pondering on the previous examples shows the big motivation factors that make groups last in nature. The trust parameter is high among individuals because each one knows that it serves self-interest to be honest and communicate trustful information. The shared need of survival is the glue that sticks them together.
Cohesion of Human Groups
Human socialize, but short sight and lack of genuine trust to glue members together make social groups fragile. We see how social group change rapidly and collapse like a bubble. The cohesion of social media friends is weak and falls apart easily because of varying self-interests. Just ask your how many of your recent contacts on social media disappeared. Social media weakens the bonding of people and increases suspicions of parties. It is the new gravitational force that overcomes the cohesion force among people.
Dandelions provide a great lesson of compromise. The seeds have a bunch of hair coming out in numbers around one hundred. Why not thousands? The reason is that they seek compromise while carried by the wind between the need to keep their stability with the simultaneity to reduce the air drag. Mathematicians have calculated the that the way to do it is for each seed to have one hundred hairs acting like a parachute. This is an amazing finding as the dandelions figured this out long times ago and without having access to computers.
Jerry Fletcher wrote a comment recently on a post by Mohammed Abdul Jawad titled “Differences, Dogmas and Delusions”. In his comment, Jerry wrote “Mohammed, the mark of a leader is that he or she is not concerned with having followers but in helping others lead. That, in large measure, is based on trust which goes both directions. And so it goes”. I concur fully with Jerry as nature tells us it is all about trust.
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التعليقات
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #45
Preston \ud83d\udc1d Vander Ven Great analogy and explains the value of trust as a binding and incentive factor to expand the value of a group. I refer Fay Vietmeier to your lovely comment.
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #44
I totally agree with you my thoughtful friend Roberto De la Cruz Utria. Egoism and self-interest are strong motivators for people and self-interest overrides. This is the challenge for leaders to communicate the glue (purpose) and make it more appealing than self-driving factors. When the cost of deviation exceed the cost or benefits from conforming then we may offset self factors. This is a huge challenge. When people in thousands attend a soccer match the supporters of the favored team have a common purpose- to make their team win, They create waves of support for their favored team and all seem to work as many in one. Imagine if the purpose was of higher value. I thank you my friend for the compliment and I am elevated by your kind words.
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #43
Fay Vietmeier
منذ 4 سنوات #42
Ali \ud83d\udc1d Anani, Brand Ambassador @beBee I just buzz behind the "best of bees" Such a one as thee my dear Professor Ali ;~) No more haggling ... just waggling ;~)
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #41
Thank you Victor Alston
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #40
Nature is balanced and we by endangering certain species we endanger too this balance. Thank you dear Debasish Majumder
Debasish Majumder
منذ 4 سنوات #39
if tiger increases in rapid pace then we too have to be cautious about the gravity of afforestation where they can comfortably resort to, lest the endangered species will cause huge danger to human beings as well other beings sir Ali \ud83d\udc1d Anani, Brand Ambassador @beBee
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #38
Dear Fay Vietmeier You are a bee who knows well where best it is to collect nectar.
Fay Vietmeier
منذ 4 سنوات #37
Ali \ud83d\udc1d Anani, Brand Ambassador @beBee Now this little bee is just buzzing around An attentive bee that seeks what's profound This bee captures rich words ... just like honey Now if only I could turn that skill into money ;~) Zacharias \ud83d\udc1d Voulgaris it takes much time & intentionality to connect in a meaningful way ... in LIFE and on SM platforms I have been on LI since it's inception and have not found the level of connection I have found on beBEE Javier \ud83d\udc1d CR Everything I share on beBee I share on LI-FB-Twitter (can't on Google + "no longer available for consumer & brand accounts") I'm not sure why the response & interaction is so much better on beBee... perhaps it's the "honey of being a bee"
Zacharias 🐝 Voulgaris
منذ 4 سنوات #36
Indeed. In beBee it's easier to get to know the other people on it, as it's a SM that promotes a more in-depth communication. I guess that's one of the reasons we are here! In the article I was talking about SM in general, places like FB and LI where communication tends to be more superficial among people who don't have a prior connection. Thank you for your feedback!
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #35
I wish dear #Fay Vietmeier I could remember my quotes as well as you do. This shows your quality of attentive reading and far from shallowness.
Fay Vietmeier
منذ 4 سنوات #34
Ali \ud83d\udc1d Anani, Brand Ambassador @beBee Something you said awhile back always stayed in my mind: "shallowness is spreading" I'm sure that laziness & shallowness are best friends '~) Yes many in "power" possess these life-robbing attributes "The blind leading the blind"
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #33
Thanks for alerting me dear Fay Vietmeier for a post that passed my notice. I read your post and shared it with joy. Yes, lazy minds is problematic not only for those with lazy minds, but also for people around. In variance we have more possibilities. That is why systems under stress find not one new trajectory, but they bifurcate into more than one. Same with different thoughts. They should be a source for more options and thinking paths. However; lazy minds want to think in one possibility. Mind you as many of those people are in power.
Fay Vietmeier
منذ 4 سنوات #32
Ali \ud83d\udc1d Anani, Brand Ambassador @beBee “Conformity is the enemy of growth” ~fem-v A rich insight Ali: “Our human relationship are more geared to selfishness and little concern for others. We lack trust and in groups we find conformity is more important in most cases than expressing different thoughts. We have a lot to learn.” We all have a thought compass … The ability to consider “different thoughts” & respond to them is an opportunity to learn & grow. At the minimum we grow in our ability to explain, or affirm our own thinking/beliefs … and may possibly gain by laying hold of the value of a “different thought” MANY times I have experienced this with “the best of bees” Where is your thought compass leading you? https://www.bebee.com/producer/@fay-vietmeier-pennsylvania/where-is-your-thought-compass-leading-you
Fay Vietmeier
منذ 4 سنوات #31
Zacharias \ud83d\udc1d Voulgaris Zacharias ~ A good analogy: “social media … the traditional ones that are more mainstream, are to human relationships what porn is to intimate relationship: a cheap replacement that's often toxic” Great question: How can you trust someone you never met and probably won’t in the foreseeable future? I say: “trust people who are trustworthy” … this is revealed over time (mostly through situations & often through words) “Circumstances do not make a man they reveal him” I have only been on beBee since the summer of 2019 … but I can say with assurance after many months and many, rich conversations with those who I have dubbed “the best of bees” … there are MANY I would trust. (You bees know who you are ;~) They pour out their heart & I pour out mine ;~) This “trust” is based on their words … their responses and interactions on beBee This was one of my early posts: “What do you words say about you?” https://www.bebee.com/producer/@fay-vietmeier-pennsylvania/what-do-your-words-say-about-you For human speaking is an art … and Words do reveal what is in the HEART.
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #30
I agree that survival is the main drive for the instinct behaviour in animals. The tiger loose in our metaphysical survival sounds very interesting- a thought that I plan to research soon. It is interesting that you mention that physically we are able to survive in contrast to our emotional state is the one facing jeopardy. Your expansion to the need of feeling emotionally safe within groups fits well with the post that Zacharias \ud83d\udc1d Voulgaris mentioned in his post of today. https://www.bebee.com/producer/@zacharias-voulgaris/group-levels-and-the-value-of-initiative Thank you my friend Harvey Lloyd for your sharing of your thoughts and on expanding the realm of the discussions.
Harvey Lloyd
منذ 4 سنوات #29
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #28
-+I fully concur. Research on why dandelions have groups of hair restricted to around one hundred took them time to establish this. Maybe they have memory and can learn from experience. But again, this number serves the individual and the group.
Zacharias 🐝 Voulgaris
منذ 4 سنوات #27
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #26
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #25
Your comment is consistent with my previous one dear John Rylance #26. I agree with you.
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #24
Thank you for your thoughtful comment dear Zacharias \ud83d\udc1d Voulgaris. I liked your porn analogy. When thousand of birds or bees or whatever meet they surely don't have that intimate relationship. Who would be associated with thousands of birds, for example? It is an issue that kept my mind busy. In human relationships I read once that it averages around one hundred and fifty people. But birds and bees have something all in common. I think it is the trust that for a bird to survive it needs to cater for others. This common understandings is what I arrived at. Our human relationship are more geared to selfishness and little concern for others. We lack trust and in groups we find conformity is more important in most cases than expressing different thoughts. We have a lot to learn.
John Rylance
منذ 4 سنوات #23
Picking up on the Social Media quote. It can also be a fear of being left behind in the hyper-fast rat race the Social Media exchanges create. Personally I prefer the leisurely tortoise pace to that of the electrified hare.
Zacharias 🐝 Voulgaris
منذ 4 سنوات #22
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #21
Dear Fay Vietmeier- Great and having just read and shred your fantastic post on "The Synchronicity of Serendipity, Epiphany & Coincidence” I am sure your forthcoming post shall be of the same high standard. If you haven't yet read the post of Fay I urge you to do so. The link is: https://www.bebee.com/producer/@fay-vietmeier-pennsylvania/the-synchronicity-of-serendipity-epiphany-coincidence
Fay Vietmeier
منذ 4 سنوات #20
Ali \ud83d\udc1d Anani, Brand Ambassador @beBee This irony is lost in darkness Ali I do actually have 2 writings in my "bee-famous drafts" that focus on this issue "Despairing hearts" & "Dark hearts" ... are everywhere ... a sign of our times
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #19
Beautifully expressed Cyndi wilkins. Social-awareness must include parasites who are in the search of hosts. Social media encourages such parasites to spread.
Cyndi wilkins
منذ 4 سنوات #18
.My best advice to anyone engaging with others on social media or in any capacity is this...It is wonderful to have a compassionate ear, but remember this... parasites are always looking for a host. Survival depends on ones ability to draw the line and disengage with anyone who drains you of your sense of self worth. There are too many predators out there that would like to make you think you are nothing without them...Nothing could be further from the truth.
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #17
My dear Fay Vietmeier There is a line of thought in your comment that sums up the current social situation very clearly. It is "Irony: In our highly social media driven world we are becoming less & less “social”. This is the paradox that we face today. You may consider expanding this thought into a post my good friend. It needs people of your caliber to suggest a way out of this chaos.
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #16
Fay Vietmeier
منذ 4 سنوات #15
Fay Vietmeier
منذ 4 سنوات #14
Ali \ud83d\udc1d Anani, Brand Ambassador @beBee continued ... 3) TRUST: is complex as is human nature Ongoing I say: “trust people who are trustworthy” … only proven over time ... after seeing how people handle difficult challenges … stress-full situations … challenging people & events “Circumstances do not make a man they reveal him” Naïve to trust people you don’t truly know … Again many complexities … sometimes you may be in a situation that requires judgment in short time and you have to rely on your senses: instinct & gut … intuition 4) “We see how social group change rapidly and collapse like a bubble. The cohesion of social media friends is weak and falls apart easily because of varying self-interests. Just ask your how many of your recent contacts on social media disappeared” In short time on beBee I have observed this … many of the “best bees” have flown away agree Ali: “Social media weakens the bonding of people and increases suspicions of parties” … and social media has become a “new gravitational force” that impedes- relationship person-to-person Irony: In our highly social media driven world we are becoming less & less “social” Beware: Smart phones & dumb people This reflects a spiritual our condition more than our physical condition
Fay Vietmeier
منذ 4 سنوات #13
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #12
Thank you for your appreciative comment dearMarisa Fonseca Diniz. I support your comment and it sows that in reality we are getting more into "social isolation".
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #11
You are highlighting the emerging evils of social media dear Cyndi wilkins. You are very right to say "..Depending upon the information you share, the interaction that may result can cause you higher levels of stress than you ever bargained for". Instead of "social relief" we are getting "social burden". A topic that merits a post by you.
Cyndi wilkins
منذ 4 سنوات #10
I agree on your thoughts here Jerry Fletcher, as many of us engage in social networking as a means of seeking emotional support to ease our sense of social anxiety...Success is measured by the number of 'followers' or Facebook friends we've accumulated. Since the self-publishing platforms have been launched on these social sites, many a budding author engages in the sharing of personal information regarding their own struggles with the adversities that often leave us feeling duped, abused and alone....Depending upon the information you share, the interaction that may result can cause you higher levels of stress than you ever bargained for. Within the last twenty years or so, suicide rates among adolescents and young people has drastically increased due to 'online bullying'....It is important to teach our children to be very vigilant about the information they divulge on any social network...There is a terrible risk here...especially for those young people lacking self-esteem.
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #9
Your comment is a post on its own for it sheds light on reality. If "On the other hand, their observations can be manipulated quite easily by misdirection" and it is then it is an issue of mistrust. The glue is repelling instead of joining and this is an evil that humans do perfectly well. I concur with your thoughts on social media. There is a delicate balance between two opposing forces" being social and remaining authentic. Unfortunately, the balance is tilted far more towards being part of a group and not feel left out. Authenticity then suffers.
Jerry Fletcher
منذ 4 سنوات #8
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #7
Cyndi wilkins and I appreciate your expressing your thoughts on nature explicitly. I gave the dandelions on flight on purpose to show how these birds found out how to balance two opposing forces very smartly before we humans did. Blind to nature is being blinded to imagination and discovery.
Cyndi wilkins
منذ 4 سنوات #6
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #5
Mohammed Abdul Jawad
منذ 4 سنوات #4
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #3
I believe it is having a third shared element by two parties to cohere to each other. Trust is the glue. When our ego is stronger than the glue the structure collapses. Thank you dear Debasish Majumder for your consistent support.
Debasish Majumder
منذ 4 سنوات #2
Ali Anani
منذ 4 سنوات #1