Human sociability is a fact of common experience. As early as prehistoric times, the social appears as a characteristic of human life that implied union and coexistence in order to survive.
There is much evidence that human beings live and coexist in society, but what is the origin of this human sociability? There are basically three theories that answer this question:
- Contractualist theoryThe latter considered that "[t]he right of the individual is a right that is not a right". The latter considered that "man is a wolf to man". where human nature is essentially selfish and anti-social, joining a group for individual interest..
- Naturalistic theory, with Hegel as one of its greatest exponents, who argued that it is an evolutionary process of reality (in matter and spirit).
- The theory of the social nature of human beingsalso known as the theory of natural law. Maintained by Aristotle and Thomas Aquinas, among others, it affirms that human nature has sociability as one of its essential characteristics and that, therefore, there is a natural need, not an individual need as Hobbes argued, to live in society.
Since no one has been able to prove, but merely theorise, the egoistic, anti-social or asocial character of human nature, it does not seem that the birth of sociability is due to mutual consent between men, but rather to an imperious inclination of nature and an inescapable necessity for the vast majority of humans.
In addition, Many psychological studies show that human beings need not only to receive from others, but also to be able to give, to communicate, to share, to touch, to hug, etc.
During the period of confinement this need has been denied us, not only by reason of meeting our material and spiritual needs, which could not be met in solitude, but, more profoundly, by reason of its own perfection and fullness, which is communicated and expanded in mutual understanding and friendship.
We Spaniards are known for being affable, affectionate and highly social, always ready to lend a hand when we are needed, to give two kisses to a stranger when they are introduced to us or a big hug to a friend when we see them.
We are now being asked to relate to each other from two metres away and, surely, In the short term, there will be a change of behaviour and we will obeyIt is not so much out of imposition, but rather out of fear of the possible spread of a virus about which we still know very little.
This reminds me of the 1987 photo of the late Princess of Wales shaking hands with an HIV patient at the Middlesex Hospital in London to help dispel some of the stigma surrounding the disease in those years.
But I suspect that the initial fear of this virus and the aversion to personal contact will disappear in time, sooner rather than later.We will return to the way of relating to each other that we are so used to and that we carried in our social imprint.
But I am also convinced that This confinement will have helped many people to reflect on the kind of relationship they had with society before COVID-19.They have also been asked about what they have really missed during this deprivation of sociability; and how they want to live it and with whom from now on, when this period of social distancing is over.
Surely there will be break-ups of couples who were together out of sheer inertia or social interests that seem to have lost weight by being subjected to them for so long. Perhaps there will be a change of view on "chosen solitude" and the concept of "chosen solitude". singleBut in both cases, I am sure you will be looking for a special person with whom you can happily share your life, because we humans are naturally social beings who need to love and be loved.
Human Resources expert, founder of Alcanda Matchmakingthe first matchmaking company in Spain and of Matchmaking Corporation. Creator of the patented scientific method "Sentimental Head Hunting®", which was created in response to the need to provide a sector, until now little regulated, with a rigorous method that would offer guarantees of professionalism and ethics to its clients in search of a stable partner.