only about half of human cultures kiss romantically or sexually.

almost half of american adults find it difficult to make friends. according to a 2019 study, the average american hasn't made a new friend in 5 years.

having low social interaction is as bad for your body as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, being obese, or being an alcoholic.

"reasoning doesn't have this function of helping us to get better beliefs and make better decisions. it was a purely social phenomenon. it evolved to help us convince others and to be careful when others try to convince us. truth and accuracy were beside the point." - hugo mercer (ambizione fellow at the cognitive science center of the university of neuchâtel)

the hawthorne effect is the technical term for the tendency people have to change their behavior when they know they’re being watched.

bonobos are an increasingly rare relative of chimpanzees and humans. like us, bonobos walk upright, not on all fours, and have complex language skills. they have also developed a ridiculously peaceful culture compared to other hominids. their answer to everything? sex. they use sex as a greeting, a means to form social bonds, and as conflict resolution. (so maybe we owe hugh hefner an apology?)