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Humans are tribal, we are a species that thrives in the collective, where individual skills are amplified by the resources and assistance of others. Throughout our known history, we’ve been organized into different groups for specific purposes, whether that be family, relational, cultural or fulfilling our basic needs. Classically presented as the Dunbar number, named after a notable British anthropology professor, humans have Neo-cortexes that support a loose acquaintance level of 150 persons and smaller intimate groups of 12-15. 

These statistics are reflected in military & business organizational systems, the rifle company normally will not exceed 150 personnel and start-ups are often seen as losing culture, vibe and purpose when they exceed Dunbar’s number. This research is recent, first published in 1992 and continues to inform our understanding of the need for community, to belong, a sense of place. I’ve written at length about the value of social capital, our propensity and opportunity to create bonds, and its importance to the safety and future of communities under duress. 

The body of research in disaster and emergency management (DEM) is reasonably homogenous in that it posits human connections, the value placed on our sense of belonging is one of, if not the key variable, in determining the quality of our post event outcomes. Whether we pontificate on how neanderthals managed earthquakes, or we examine the last 300 years of data on human tribal response to significant exogenous shock, I will argue that the value of community is unquestioned, but under-utilized.

We transformed from a duty to contribute to and build our tribe to entitlement to draw from it. A slow, deliberate, methodical change in our culture that now has a nation of what is colloquial referred to as a collection of individual dependasaurus. 

This extends to how we have changed our political demands, we seek politicians and governments that provide for us, give us benefits so that we can do what we desire, vice the tribal sense of contributing to and building the local community. We no longer focus on our duty to fellow citizens and our Dunbar numbered tribe, but our orientation is on what is our benefit, what are we entitled to and how can we systematically increase the reach of the benevolent government.

Now, every bump in the night leads to a call for more government intervention, for a program to alleviate the issue, when the solution is found within a short walk of your house.

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