Thank you Stephanie for the wine and cheese invite. T'was a great group and the human's need for affinity has never been stronger in an era of isolation and marital strife. I was alarmed by the number of couples that you have encountered in your travels that have split up!
Coaching theory outlines the desire for "affiliation" among the top motivators of young athletes to participate in sport. I contend that the desire persists throughout life. It's unfortunate that some groups have an element of dysfunction due to competing agendas or agendas misaligned with the common good. Perhaps, groups are best suited for certain sizes. Perhaps, checks and balances implemented can safeguard any abuses of the individual that could potentially arise from the psychology of a group dynamic. Perhaps, leadership can become overly zealous with belief systems and structure that become burdensome for the individual to express one's autonomy. A capitalist system justifiably upholds the individual as the source of economic energy - yet civilizations require the synergy of groups for conducting social discourse.
Party "whips" are at work to ensure that politicians maintain the party line while casting votes in government. Principled dogma overtakes practical jurisprudence when developing laws that matter and have meaning to average people. Corporate elite carve their influence and agendas into the minds of men hired to serve the populous. Groups ultimately must be careful not to lose their way and fall victim to causes unbecoming of their purpose to be.
