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In slime molds, evolution selects 'loners' who refrain from collective behavior

phys.org

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Re: In slime molds, evolution selects 'loners' who refrain from collective behavior

#31

Post by asdfman123 »

codingslave wrote: post #30

I think being a loner is a high variance strategy. In a majority of the time, it hurts you in our society. But certain individuals will see huge levels of success. It's similar to the genetics of schizophrenia. Families with genetic schizophrenia and more specifically individuals with high chances of mental illness often see bifurcated life outcomes, they are both more likely to end up down and out, homeless, in a me…

Well, be careful not to assume that the modern-day loner is the same as the Pleistocene-era loner.

I'm both somewhat shy and very much introverted. I don't like artificially-created social situations. But I'll talk at great length to family members and people I work closely with.

If I were in a Pleistocene tribe where basically I'm surrounded by 120 members of my extended family, coworkers, etc. etc., I'd probably talk a lot more. I like social interactions, I'm just uncomfortable in novel situations and I don't like small talk.

Re: In slime molds, evolution selects 'loners' who refrain from collective behavior

#32

Post by r6754dw »

asdfman123 wrote: post #31
codingslave wrote: post #30

I think being a loner is a high variance strategy. In a majority of the time, it hurts you in our society. But certain individuals will see huge levels of success. It's similar to the genetics of schizophrenia. Families with genetic schizophrenia and more specifically individuals with high chances of mental illness often see bifurcated life outcomes, they are both more likely to end up down and out, homeless, in a me…

Well, be careful not to assume that the modern-day loner is the same as the Pleistocene-era loner. I'm both somewhat shy and very much introverted. I don't like artificially-created social situations. But I'll talk at great length to family members and people I work closely with. If I were in a Pleistocene tribe where basically I'm surrounded by 120 members of my extended family, coworkers, etc. etc., I'd probably ta…

True, our modern societies where most people meet strangers often are historically unusual. Before industrialization the vast majority of population lived their lives in small village communities where everybody knew each other. Traits that might be harmful today weren't necessarily so back then.

Re: In slime molds, evolution selects 'loners' who refrain from collective behavior

#33

Post by monkeydreams »

codingslave wrote: post #30

I think being a loner is a high variance strategy. In a majority of the time, it hurts you in our society. But certain individuals will see huge levels of success. It's similar to the genetics of schizophrenia. Families with genetic schizophrenia and more specifically individuals with high chances of mental illness often see bifurcated life outcomes, they are both more likely to end up down and out, homeless, in a me…

> I think being a loner is a high variance strategy. In a majority of the time, it hurts you in our society. But certain individuals will see huge levels of success.

I have been thinking through this question quite a lot recently. In an employment scenario loners often appear to be driven to manage or encompass all aspects of their domain. This leads to a breadth of knowledge and skills.

If this pattern has occurred across their entire life, then they can appear to be highly intelligent, "across everything", driven, etc - or they can appear frenetic, unfocused and disorganised.

Re: In slime molds, evolution selects 'loners' who refrain from collective behavior

#34

Post by chrischen »

hammock wrote: post #29
chrischen wrote: post #7

While human social loners fit the mould, I don't think that's the lone point we should get out of this. What is actually beneficial to society (whether mold or human) is diversity in genetics, neuro-diversity, and in general.

>beneficial to society Isn't the point that being a 'loner' is beneficial to the individual (slimemold), regardless of society?

I wouldn't characterize Bill Gates as a loner in the traditional sense, or even an outcast, but decidedly unique and exceptional.

Loners and outcasts are a subset of a diversity.

Re: In slime molds, evolution selects 'loners' who refrain from collective behavior

#35

Post by chrischen »

analognoise wrote: post #9
chrischen wrote: post #7

While human social loners fit the mould, I don't think that's the lone point we should get out of this. What is actually beneficial to society (whether mold or human) is diversity in genetics, neuro-diversity, and in general.

When you say "neuro-diversity" is beneficial, what exactly do you mean?

People who think and act differently, not just people who have genetics that physically allow them to be different (though genetics can result in expressed neuro-diversity as well).

A disadvantage in one situation can be a blessing in another situation. A savant who has Aspergers, someone who has OCD during a Covid-19 epidemic, etc...

Re: In slime molds, evolution selects 'loners' who refrain from collective behavior

#37

Post by RedBeetDeadpool »

This makes me think of how certain types of people, i.e. the experimental, inventors, entrepreneurs, artists, etc, who live life to the beat of their own drums, don't really ever let society tell them how they should act, but if they ever strike gold, the rest of society immediate starts to follow along using their products, or mimicking their style. Also the majority of these types of people never strike gold, but they will wander on their own path regardless - very similarly to those 'loners'.
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