A Great Blog Post on Social Relationships

This morning I came across an insight-packed post on Wade Schuette's blog, Perspectives in Public Health. The post, entitled "The importance of social relationships," examines the many levels on which social relationships can positively influence our lives, and society. Here's a tidbit to whet your appetite:

When cells are removed from the human body, they simply die. It turns out to be very hard to build a "cell line" that survives when detached. The cells commit suicide, in a process called apoptosis - they simply lose the will to live and shut down. There's increasing evidence that a similar process happens among people.

If so, the recent work by Robert Putnam in Bowling Alone, and the Duke study, Social Isolation in America, and a Boston Globe review of both might show one reason why there is a rising tide of mental illness and depression in America today. These "psychosocial" factors reveal that humans are not really isolated units, but are units that only work well when embedded in a strong, interactive, supportive social context.

Another point from the post that jumped out at me, in the context of the work environment, was the following:

Research studies show that over half the productivity of development groups is due to unscheduled, accidental, spontaneous discussions between people that take place outside the formal business structure.

There's a whole lot more to Wade's post, so please click over and explore it for yourself!

Part of the reason I find this topic so interesting is the focus of the Baha'i Faith on unity. 'Abdu'l-Bahá states: "Bahá'u'lláh spent His life teaching this lesson of Love and Unity." The rising tide of research on the positive influence of social relationships, and, conversely, the negative effects of social isolation, are to me a real confirmation of this teaching. I previously posted a bit about this topic here. The universal principle underlying these findings was described in the following terms by 'Abdu'l-Bahá:

. . . consider the phenomenon of composition and decomposition, of existence and non-existence. Every created thing in the contingent world is made up of many and varied atoms, and its existence is dependent on the composition of these. In other words, through the divine creative power a conjunction of simple elements taketh place so that from this composition a distinct organism is produced. The existence of all things is based upon this principle. But when the order is deranged, decomposition is produced and disintegration setteth in, then that thing ceaseth to exist. That is, the annihilation of all things is caused by decomposition and disintegration. Therefore attraction and composition between the various elements is the means of life, and discord, decomposition and division produce death. Thus the cohesive and attractive forces in all things lead to the appearance of fruitful results and effects, while estrangement and alienation of things lead to disturbance and annihilation. Through affinity and attraction all living things like plants, animals and men come into existence, while division and discord bring about decomposition and destruction.

Consequently, that which is conducive to association and attraction and unity among the sons of men is the means of the life of the world of humanity, and whatever causeth division, repulsion and remoteness leadeth to the death of humankind.

Creating a Culture of Intimacy

A study published in the June 2006 edition of the American Sociological Review entitled "Social Isolation in America: Changes in Core Discussion Networks over Two Decades" finds a startling decline over the past 20 years in the number of confidants with whom Americans discuss important matters. A great deal of interest has been sparked by this work, including an excellent interview on Forum. The study, authored by Miller McPherson, Lynn Smith-Lovin and Matthew E. Brashears, compares the results of the General Social Survey conducted in 1985 with the results of the same survey conducted in 2004, finding:

(1) the typical American discussion network has slightly less than one fewer confidant in it than it did in 1985, and (2) that in 2004 an adult, noninstitutionalized American is much more likely to be completely isolated from people with whom he or she could discuss important matters than in 1985.

The study further found that in particular, "ties with local neighborhoods and groups have suffered at higher rates than others." One of the central questions arising out of the dialogue surrounding this study is, "What can be done to address this?"

It is interesting in this light to consider the role of the activities that the Bahá'ís around the world are focusing on--devotional gatherings, study circles, children's classes and junior youth activities. These activities, which involve small groups of people coming together to pray, study and discuss spiritual principles, or provide spiritual education to children, have been described as creating a "culture of intimacy" in communities, and have been found to be particularly effective in creating such a culture in neighborhoods and among other groups such as co-workers and friends. A fitting remedy to the ills identified in the study, calling to mind the following words of Bahá'u'lláh:

The All-Knowing Physician hath His finger on the pulse of mankind. He perceiveth the disease, and prescribeth, in His unerring wisdom, the remedy.