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What holds groups together? How interdependence shapes group-living
Angelica Kaufmann1, James Brooks2, Liran Samuni2
1Cognition in Action (CIA) Unit, PHILAB, Department of Philosophy, University of Milan, Via Festa del Perdono, Milano20122, Italy angelica.kaufmann@unimi.it jamesgerardbrooks@gmail.com.
The Behavioral and Brain Sciences
|November 26, 2025
Summary
This study challenges Dunbar's focus on pairs, showing how group pressures like cooperative breeding and threats foster joint commitment for social cohesion.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary anthropology
- Social psychology
- Behavioral ecology
Background:
- Dunbar's theory emphasizes dyadic relationships in group formation.
- This overlooks the significance of interdependence and joint commitment in maintaining social cohesion.
- Group-level dynamics are crucial for understanding social bonding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To challenge Dunbar's premise by highlighting group-level processes.
- To explore the roles of interdependence and joint commitment in social cohesion.
- To investigate how top-down pressures influence group stability.
Main Methods:
- Theoretical analysis of social cohesion models.
- Comparative analysis of group formation theories.
- Review of empirical evidence on cooperative breeding and out-group threat.
Main Results:
- Group-level processes, including interdependence and joint commitment, are vital for social cohesion.
- Top-down pressures such as cooperative breeding can foster joint commitment.
- Perceived out-group threat can also drive joint commitment and group cohesion.
Conclusions:
- Social cohesion is sustained through both dyadic and group-level mechanisms.
- Joint commitment, induced by group pressures, offers an alternative pathway to cohesion.
- Future research should integrate group-level factors into social bonding theories.
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