Both humans and nonhumans often exhibit a preference to affiliate, or be physically close to others of their own species.
Classic research by Stanley Schachter in 1959 studied whether affiliation is a response to fear. Schachter led some young women to believe that, as part of a psychology experiment, they would experience intense pain, while others were told the experience would involve no pain. When asked where they would prefer to wait while the exxperiment was set up, those who expected pain expressed a strong prefeerence to wait with other women. Those who expected no pain expressed no such affiliative preference.
One explanation for this 'misery loves company' effect is that affiliation gives us the opportunity for social comparison, an evaluation of how our own beliefs and behaviours compare to those of others. The less sure we are of the validity of our own thoughts and actions, the more we rely on and are assured by our similarity to others.
Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one's condition.
Classic research by Stanley Schachter in 1959 studied whether affiliation is a response to fear. Schachter led some young women to believe that, as part of a psychology experiment, they would experience intense pain, while others were told the experience would involve no pain. When asked where they would prefer to wait while the exxperiment was set up, those who expected pain expressed a strong prefeerence to wait with other women. Those who expected no pain expressed no such affiliative preference.
One explanation for this 'misery loves company' effect is that affiliation gives us the opportunity for social comparison, an evaluation of how our own beliefs and behaviours compare to those of others. The less sure we are of the validity of our own thoughts and actions, the more we rely on and are assured by our similarity to others.
The Obstacles In Our Path
In ancient times, a king had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.
Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the big stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. On approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. As the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many others never understand.
Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve one's condition.
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