Robin Dunbar: Why you cannot have more than 150 real friends

by Filip Matous on March 3, 2010

Kinship vs. friendship, the cognitive demands of monogamy, or why 400 Facebook friends may be a health hazard.

In 1992, anthropologist and evolutionary biologist Robin Dunbar proposed Dunbar’s Number — a theoretical cognitive limit on the number of people with whom we can maintain viable social relationships. He pinned that number at 148, or roughly 150. But how does this translate to today’s social media environment of 400-friend Facebook profiles — does it help us beat Dunbar’s number?

I had the pleasure of guest blogging on Brain Pickings this week. To watch the video and read the full article please click on the video below. The video isn’t below, it is just a image to link the site where I hope you play the whole thing

Tagged as: brain pickings, dunbar's number, facebook, friends, kinship, london, Robin Dunbar, social media, the RSA, university of Oxford

{ 5 comments }

1 Zengirl @ happy heart and mind March 9, 2010 at 00:32: Filip,

I agree, although I still 150 or even 148 is high numbers of social contacts, you can not really know them or do justice by having so many online contacts, that is why I am not on social media. Does it hurt my blog? may be, but I rather spend time with my kids than on social media for now.
2 Filip Matous March 9, 2010 at 13:59: Love it Zengirl,

Thanks for being an example of EXACTLY what this blog is about. Staying true and doing what is important. Family comes first, and even though I encouraged you to get on social media I am happier that you stuck to your guns.

“Rather spend time with my kids.” Keep standing strong.
3 Jess Sloss March 12, 2010 at 20:01: Why 400 friends may be a Health Hazard. http://standstrong.tv/robin-dunbar-why-you-cannot-have-more-than-150-real-friends/
4 nate aikele March 19, 2010 at 21:48: Mr Amazing-

I was just thinking about how many people I actually keep in contact with and I would struggle with coming up with even 100 possibilities, this philosophy on the ceiling of friends makes logical sense.
5 Filip Matous March 20, 2010 at 18:49: Broski, I totally agree; if I had to name 100 people I keep in somewhat regular touch with, on my own without access to any online list, I would seriously struggle.