Publish at May 14 2025 Updated May 14 2025
We know that humans are not the only gregarious animals on the planet. Many species could not have survived without living in groups. But are we really so different from other animals?
A biologist and a cognitive scientist specializing in crowd behavior see many more similarities. Already, like sheep, we rub shoulders with individuals in our lives who, while not family, are close to us in terms of values, reactions and so on. Like many species, such as ants and termites, we have built massive constructions to live in, but this closeness makes us susceptible to disease.
The ant is often used as a parallel to human society, but is this really the case? In part, yes. They generally use scent and pheromones to indicate food sources, dangers and other elements. We are also capable of communicating without speaking. Collaborative writing is an interesting example, as seen on Wikipedia, to name but one site.
Ants, on the other hand, are not at all as hierarchical as we are. They behave according to their place in the anthill and their interests. Some ants do virtually nothing, but are not ostracized by the others because they are part of the family. The "queen" is simply the breeder. As for conflicts, they are rare and occur mainly when one individual acts without having the right information. Among humans, there are more disputes and power struggles.
Running time: 9 minutes
Image : Pixabay
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