A: We live in societies that are too big for our brains. Based on the research by evolutionary psychologist Robin Dunbar, humans can have meaningful interactions with about 150 people. Beyond that, it’s difficult to have a connection.
When you know people, you behave differently than if you didn’t. You couldn’t be rude because you’d be voted off the island. So our brains are slow for the times we live in. We’re around strangers all the time, but contrast that to living in a small town. If you robbed a bank, your mom would know about it before you took off in the getaway car.
