Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Re: Is living cooperatively an ideology of itself?

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> Diane Simpson <coho [at] theworld.com>
> is the author of the message below.

> now, as I watch the progress of this group, I am just amazed. It has
> become a new creature, a new entity in the world. You can feel it,
> there's a special energy in the room when the group is there.
Research consistently shows that Individuals behave differently 
depending on context. The majority (not all) behave differently in 
groups than they do when alone. They may behave "better" or "worse," 
depending on individual needs, desired, beliefs, etc. In "group think" 
people submerge their own sense of fairness or logic. One hopes that 
the presence of others will positively elevate one's own abilities and 
awareness but there is no guarantee of this. Examples can be cited both 
ways.

Sociocracy and the recent film "A Beautiful Mind" makes the point that 
the best solution is the one that is best for the individual _and_ the 
group -- the group being defined as the other individuals in the group. 
(It's game theory, I think.) All the individuals have to win in order 
for the situation to be a positive one. As in win/win negotiating.

A solution that is the result of many individual insights is likely to 
be a more comprehensive and articulated solution than one devised by 
one individual. This is not evidence that a group exists as a separate 
entity, to the contrary, it is evidence that many unique individual 
perspectives will produce the best solution -- given that they have 
shared goals and shared interest in the outcome.

Sharon
-----
Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org

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