Objectif The contemporary urban social environment contains an inherent contradiction at its heart: we live in very large social communities, but our natural community size (as reflected in the size of our personal social networks) is very small (~150, now known as Dunbar’s Number). I argue that a tension between prosociality (facilitating social cohesion in small communities) and selfishness (the individualism that undermines cohesion in very large communities) is responsible for much of the dysfunctionality that lies at the heart of contemporary urban society. This project proposes a novel multi-disciplinary approach to exploring the processes that underpin the social relationships on which community cohesion is based. It will do this through a series of experimental and sociological studies of interpersonal relationships and the cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms that underpin them, based on integrating theory from evolutionary, cognitive, social and neuro-psychology, combined with insights from evolutionary economics and sociological network analysis. Doing so will allow us to ask whether we can extend the mechanisms involved to enable greater social cohesiveness in modern urbanised societies – probably the single most difficult issue that we currently face. In addition, the findings will have implications for how businesses and other public organisations are structured, as well as the design of digital communication technology. Lastly, by drawing on a range of different social science disciplines, I hope it will be possible to develop a framework for building a more integrated social sciences that can compete more effectively with the mainstream sciences. Champ scientifique social scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssocial sciencespsychology Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Thème(s) ERC-AG-SH4 - ERC Advanced Grant - The Human Mind and its complexity Appel à propositions ERC-2011-ADG_20110406 Voir d’autres projets de cet appel Régime de financement ERC-AG - ERC Advanced Grant Institution d’accueil THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD Contribution de l’UE € 2 497 303,00 Adresse WELLINGTON SQUARE UNIVERSITY OFFICES OX1 2JD Oxford Royaume-Uni Voir sur la carte Région South East (England) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Contact administratif Gill Wells (Ms.) Chercheur principal Robin Ian Macdonald Dunbar (Prof.) Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée Bénéficiaires (1) Trier par ordre alphabétique Trier par contribution de l’UE Tout développer Tout réduire THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD Royaume-Uni Contribution de l’UE € 2 497 303,00 Adresse WELLINGTON SQUARE UNIVERSITY OFFICES OX1 2JD Oxford Voir sur la carte Région South East (England) Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Type d’activité Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Contact administratif Gill Wells (Ms.) Chercheur principal Robin Ian Macdonald Dunbar (Prof.) Liens Contacter l’organisation Opens in new window Site web Opens in new window Coût total Aucune donnée