The social biome: how to build nourishing friendships
– and banish loneliness
Summary
The social biome concept, which is the ecological system of relationships and
communications that shapes the way we feel, think, and also function physically, is
studied by Jeffrey Hall, a teacher of communication and interpersonal studies.
Social life comprises plenty of communication modes and types of interactions:
profound conversations, social small talk, and social media online
communications. Furthermore, it was found that members of the healthier social
niche are characterized by more and deeper contacts, which are based on more
liberty of the place and time of those contacts. On the other hand, too much alone
time is as bad for an individual’s mental health as an absence of social interaction.
The social biome which includes loneliness and social malnourishment has been
effectively disturbed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Enhancing online
communication habits using socializing and organizing a lot of events can boost
the level of social biospheres. Once the lockdown is over, there may be a case for
the renegotiation of friendship and a conscious creation of a social experience that
emphasizes face-to-face conversations for more meaningful engagements.
Reflection:
As illustrated by Jeffrey Hall, the idea of the social biome gives a deep
understanding of the complicated interaction between relationships and mental and
physical well-being. It pushes us to reflect on social networking not only as
separate events, but as part of an interconnected organic system that drives our
emotional, psychological, and physical well-being.
In the current digital age, our social biome is not confined to live interactions
but it comprises virtual connections as well. Although they can help to some
extents, virtual communications cannot be used as a replacement for the depth and
wealth of real conversations. The social biomes, which are the very embodiments
of the connectedness and support we derive from our social circles, were severely
affected by these isolations, leaving some people adrift in a sea of loneliness and
social malnourishment.
However, the silver lining is that there is hope even in the face of these
situations. In this pandemic period, our society is being reborn and improved. This
translates to purposefully developing an online culture of taking care of each other
and encouraging engagement in face-to-face interactions. With the lockdown
restrictions being relaxed, we can take a moment to reassess our friendships and
focus on relationships with people who help us maintain our emotional health.
Personally, having such alone time is just as significant as having a healthy
social biome. There are times of solitude when we can look within ourselves, rest,
and establish a stronger bond with ourselves. Both intellectual and social
interactions are important because they make up a complex system that ensures our
mental stability and happiness.
Fundamentally, the idea of a social biome reinforces the interconnectedness
of all life organisms that interact and mutually support each other. Through the
initiatives to boost interactions on and offline, it is possible to establish a social
environment that enriches lives and leads to collective prosperity.
Word bank:
1. Biome /ˈbaɪ.əʊm/ (adj): a region of the earth's surface and the particular
combination of climate (= general type of weather), plants, and animals that
are found in it.
The social biome concept, which is the ecological system of relationships
and communications.
2. Interpersonal /ˌɪn.təˈpɜː.sən.əl/ (adj): connected with relationships between
people.
The successful applicant will have excellent interpersonal skills.
3. Niche /niːʃ/ (n): a job or position that is very suitable for someone, especially
one that they like.
He has made a niche for himself as a financial advisor.
4. Liberty /ˈlɪb.ə.ti/ (n): the freedom to live as you wish or go where you want.
For most citizens, liberty means the freedom to practise their religious or
political beliefs.
5. Malnourishment /ˌmælˈnʌr.ɪʃ.mənt/ (n): the fact of being weak and in bad
health because of having too little food or too little of the types of food
necessary for good health.
She was taken from her mother because of extreme neglect and
malnourishment.
6. Biosphere /ˈbaɪ.əʊ.sfɪər/ (n): a part of a planet's environment where life
exists.
We can survive as a species only if we live by the rules of the biosphere.
7. Lockdown /ˈlɒk.daʊn/ (n): an emergency situation in which people are not
allowed to freely enter, leave, or move around in a building or area because
of danger.
Police imposed a lockdown in the building until the shooter could be
stopped.
8. Renegotiate /ˌriːnəˈɡəʊʃieɪt/ (v): to discuss an agreement again in order to
change it.
The bank did not want to renegotiate the terms of the loan.
9. Interconnected /ˌɪn.tə.kəˈnek.tɪd/ (adj): with different parts or things
connected or related to each other.
The new home consists of seven interconnected buildings.
10. Embodiment (the embodiment of something) /ɪmˈbɒd.i.mənt/ (n): someone
or something that represents a quality or an idea exactly.
He was the embodiment of the English gentleman.
11. Adrift /əˈdrɪft/ (v): If a person is adrift, they do not have a clear purpose in
life or know what they want to do.
Da Silva plays a bright, lonely student from New York, adrift in small-
town Arizona.
12. Reassess /ˌriː.əˈses/ (v): to think again about something in order to decide if
you should change the way you feel about it or deal with it.
We need to reassess our values as a nation.
13. Solitude /ˈsɒl.ɪ.tʃuːd/ (n): the situation of being alone without other people.
After months of solitude at sea it felt strange to be in company.
14. Reinforce (with something) /ˌriː.ɪnˈfɔːs/ (v): to make something stronger.
The pockets on my jeans are reinforced with double stitching.
Link: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/mar/24/the-social-biome-
how-to-build-nourishing-friendships-and-banish-loneliness
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/mar/24/the-social-biome-how-to-
build-nourishing-friendships-and-banish-loneliness
