Most human beings take for granted that they are coexisting with others. It will not come to their minds to seek seclusion and to live like hermits. There are no organisations that encourage voluntary isolation by individuals. Even political parties that strive to liberalise individuals from group interference aim at building a free living-together. It seems that we will not be able to survive without groups. Living alone is no option anyway, as there is only limited space available.

When we assume that each individual has its own perception of the world and that we take decisions accordingly, then we are all unique in our thinking and acting. Every day we shed our light on many ongoing events and decide on how to act. Some things, i.e. variables, we consider to be more valuable than others. We prioritise them and spent time on guarding / doing them. As we pay so much attention to them, it is comfortable to have people around who understand our motivations.

Some people need a certain rigidity and like to see variables controlled. As it is impossible to fix them on their own, they use the power of the number (group members) to do so. They invent group structures and give it common purposes and symbols. It becomes a piece of extension to their own life: identification with the group gives a meaning to their lives. Those who do not comply with the set values will face repercussions that involve certain kind ‘negativity’. This is how we are all brought up.

The preferences of individuals vary over time and change with age. The same holds true for the preferences of groups. Today’s group is different from yesterday’s and might even attract completely different individuals to it. Some groups blend in easily with others, while others feel antipathy and aim at bending groups to their liking. Each group has a portfolio of values, where each value can deviate to a certain degree. We could call this room for adaption. When there is not enough room, friction will arise.

A society consists of individuals that (implicitly) form one-man groups. These individuals tie themselves (loosely / firmly) to other individuals and build groups. A society is thus a cocktail of the many differing (in size and composition) groups. Each group decides on how the fix the values of the variables, and as a result it becomes clear where there is room for adaptation, and where there is none. When groups are confronted with other groups that have determined a different value for the same variable friction will become apparent.

One can imagine how ‘omnipotent change’ affects this pool of groups. Suppose that it is our aim to peacefully coexist, the best solution for all seems to prevent friction. Due to the limited space on earth this seems unlikely to happen. Furthermore, some groups appear so strong that they bring with them the threat of extinction. This gives rise to pre-emptive action. Even though most of us find it hard to bring harm to a fellow human being, the collective might give us the strength that allows us to do so.

As history shows periods of adaptation and friction take turns. Groups have changed. Individuals have changed. Groups tend to sacrifice life as they want their ideas to prevail over the ideas of other groups. It seems there is a certain life cycle for groups as there is for individuals. For our existence, our survival value, we apparently need to keep playing the game of tolerating and fighting others.