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Darwin Day Celebration Lecture 2014: Why Darwin Won’t Let Facebook Get You More Friends

Posted on - 16th February, 2014 - 10:00am | Author - | Posted in - Things to Do in and around Preston, UCLan, University campus, What's On in Preston

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The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) School of Psychology announced their ninth annual Darwin Day Celebration Lecture.

Professor Robin Dunbar, from the University of Oxford will deliver a lecture entitled “Why Darwin Won’t Let Facebook Get You More Friends”.

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Robin is one of Britain’s most well-known and influential evolutionary psychologists, and is famous for his theory that evolution places a limit on the possible size of social groups. The “Dunbar’s Number” for humans is 150.

Dunbar discovered 150 to be the sweet spot for hunter-gatherer societies all over the world. A typical community is about 150 people. Amish and Hutterite communities, even most military companies around the world — seem to follow the same rule.

The reason 150 is the optimal number for a community comes from our primate ancestors, Dunbar says. In smaller groups, primates could work together to solve problems and evade predators.

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Dunbar’s research focused on the successful GORE-TEX model (the company that makes wetsuits, hiking boots and outdoor clothing). That model was based on the idea that human beings can hold only about 150 meaningful relationships in their heads. Dunbar has researched the idea so deeply, the number 150 has been dubbed “Dunbar’s Number.”

There will be a bar and bookstall in the Darwin foyer. Get there early and enjoy a drink before the start.

Free admission (see the poster below ticketing details)

Contact Mike Eslea for more info at: MJEslea@uclan.ac.uk 01772 893424

Doors open at 6pm with the lecture from 7pm to 9pm

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Monday 24 February
UCLan’s Darwin Lecture Theatre
Darwin Building
Marsh Lane
Preston
PR1 2HE

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