An individual human can maintain stable social relationships with about 150 people, not more. This is the proposition known as Dunbar s number - that the architecture of the human brain sets an upper limit on our social lives. A new study from Stockholm University indicates that a cognitive limit on human group sizes cannot be derived in this manner.
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Human beings may be able to maintain as many as 520 friendships at any one time, according to new analysis.
It contradicts a long-standing theory called Dunbar s number which states humans are incapable of maintaining social relationships with more than 150 people.
This was based on calculations of a person s cognitive limit due to brain size and what we know about primate groups.
However, fresh calculations reveal this method is futile and the true figure for a person s maximum number of friendships could be anywhere from two to 520.
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A long-standing theory states humans are incapable of maintaining social relationships with more than 150 people, but new research dismantles this belief, saying the method is futile (stock)
Dunbar s number debunked: Research suggests you can have more than 150 friends
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New research suggests it s impossible to pinpoint the human brain s maximum capacity for social relations, contrary to the concept of Dunbar s number which was based on non-human primates. File Photo by Monkey Business Images/Shutterstock
New research suggests it s impossible to pinpoint the human brain s maximum capacity for social relations, contrary to the concept of Dunbar s number which was based on non-human primates. Photo by Johan Lind/N/Stockholm University
May 5 (UPI) If you want to have more than 150 friends, you can new research says not to let the British anthropologist Robin Dunbar stop you.