[MD] Loneliness

[David Thomas]

Greetings MoQers (old and new)
 
When I left this list years ago, I promised myself I would not join again.
Look at the archive from time to time maybe, but not jump back into the
brier-patch. My stint here started with Lila Squad and lasted until 2000 I
think.
 
Did loneliness get to me? Or maybe discomfort with the progress (or lack
thereof)? The uncivil discourse particularly in the current events
threads?(Platt & Arlo are sure making Struan proud.) Some of each, but the
kicker is this book:

Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection by John T.
Cacioppo & William Patrick.

It is an overview of a series of multi-disciplinary studies carried out by
social and biological scientists over the last 20 years may give insight
into the emerging of the social level.

A taste:
 
³ The ³social brain² gave rise to the expanded cerebral cortex in humans
because it gave an advantage to individuals who could learn by social
observations; recognize the shifting status of friends and foes; anticipate
and coordinate efforts between two of more individuals, eventually relying
on language to communicate with, reason with, teach, and deceive others;
orchestrate relationships, ranging from pair bonds and families to friends,
bands, and coalitions; navigate complex hierarchies, adhere to social norms,
and absorb cultural developments; subjugate self-interest to the interest of
the pair bond or social group in exchange for the possibility of long-term
benefits; recruit support for the sanctioning of individuals who violate
group norms; and do all this across time frames that stretch from the
distant past to multiple possible futures. It is worth noting that each of
the subtle mental abilities requires the executive control functions of the
frontal lobes-the function that succumbs most easily to the disturbing force
of feeling socially isolatedŠŠŠ.
³Getting by as a happy and healthy human being requires the integrative
intelligence exercised by the brain¹s frontal lobes, a function that
neuroscientists and psychologists have labeled executive control.²
 
³Social Brain!² "Social Biology?"
Oh horrors, what a MoQ blasphemy!

What makes the "social" divide difficult is that prior to MoQ the term had
been applied to a whole range of other animal behavior (still is). But
MoQishly the social level is exclusively human. Whether these prior events
are called "quasi-social" or "pre-social" what this book shows it that there
were many patterns that had to coevolved on the cusp of the social level
before it could emerge. And picking any one as the tipping point, probably
misses the point. Often overlooked in the discussions of patterns and levels
is the equal importance of the myriad of conxections, relationships and
un-relationships between them (Bo, see works by James for in-depth
discussions ;-))

It would seem "Integrative intelligence" and "executive control" also pave
the way for the emergence of the intellect. Good book, well worth the time.
Oh yeah, there may be a loneliness gene. And that's a good thing.

Dave