The Importance Of Socialization For Brain Development
We are social beings and as such we need to be in contact (socialization) in order to survive. Our human condition is defined by culture and culture does not develop if we are isolated. We can even say that interacting with other people is the best way to fully develop our brain.
Therefore, it is extremely important to form friendships and fellowship not only to maintain good mental health but also to keep the brain active. Thus, any sociable person promotes the health of their brain, protecting it against cognitive deterioration and dementia.
Recent studies in biological anthropology demonstrate the importance of socialization in the evolutionary development of the brain. Without social relationships, we would not have actualized and would not be who we are. On the other hand, there are some very revealing cases that show us what happens if someone spends their early years in isolation. These cases are those of “wild children”.
We will now explain in more detail the benefits of socialization for brain development and the negative effects of its absence.
Socialization at the origin of the human being
Human beings are the animals with the most complex brains. It is an organ that allows us to develop a system of communication through language. Besides, it gives us the possibility to make complicated decisions, to create objects with our own hands and even to dominate other species or the environment.
According to Daniel White, specialist in brain evolution, it is socialization that has allowed this great brain development. For him, life in society has encouraged our brain development.
The different environmental and social situations served as stimuli for the brain to develop higher processes. He has acquired a greater capacity for memorization and greater precision in directing the hands. Language has also developed. All of these evolving factors have made our lives easier for the past 300,000 years.
The importance of socialization for brain development can be noticed when we compare the maturation of the human brain to that of other primates. The brain of a chimpanzee matures during gestation, and by the time it is born, its brain is already practically formed. After two years, the brain of chimpanzees has already reached the size of the adult brain.
In the case of humans, the maturation of the brain stops between the period of gestation and the first two years of life. So, for example, our brains reach the size of an adult’s at 7 years old, when a little boy or girl should be prepared for the first simple social interactions.
However, and even if it no longer grows, the human brain continues to shape itself up to the age of 25, a period when socialization plays a very important role. In fact, it is so important that it has a decisive influence on brain maturation.
The effects of a lack of socialization in the brain during childhood
Lack of socialization affects brain maturation in different ways. It is so harmful that it impacts and delays general brain development, especially during the first years of life. Thus, the absence of social relationships leading to quality interactions affects mood, behavior, but also cognitive health and motor skills.
Lack of socialization has greater effects during the infant stage. During the first ten years of life, humans acquire and perfect many higher psychological processes, such as language. Examples of these harmful effects can be found in the cases of “feral children”.
Genie’s case refers to the experience of a little girl who was reclusive by her parents during her first thirteen years of life. She had no type of emotional stimulation or socialization. This prevented the little girl from developing complex language: she only gesticulated, making certain sounds to respond to external stimuli. Even though she was 13, she never managed to use complex language fluently again.
Another case is that of the Aveyron Wild Child, which occurred in 1800. A 12-year-old child appeared in the Aveyron region of France (a sparsely populated region). He climbed trees and ran without clothes. Like Genie, he did not speak and, moreover, he crawled on all fours like chimpanzees. He had been abandoned, or his parents had died when he was little, so he hadn’t experienced any kind of socialization.
These two cases are special examples of what the absence of socialization can imply for brain development. They also tell us about the development possibilities of our brain, which is capable of acquiring certain complex skills such as language.
Socialization for brain development
We have already seen the importance of socialization for brain development. Socialization provides emotional health and stimuli for our brain, providing challenges and keeping it active. These socialization processes are vital, especially at the later stages of life. It prevents mental deterioration caused by low mental activity.
To know these benefits, we must try to be sociable people. The most possible. This socialization with other people should preferably be done orally, although writing also provides benefits.
For those people who spend most of their time alone, there are certain measures to not lose the stimuli that social contact generates:
- Schedule meetings with friends and family as often as possible. Long, daily calls can also have the same effect.
- Join a club or organization to carry out specific activities and form friendships. By doing this, your body and hands will be occupied. Your brain will activate by socializing.
- It is also recommended to carry out new activities. This way you will get to know new people from different environments than the ones you already know.
- Avoid social isolation, go out on the streets to chat and exchange ideas with people you know or not.
- Establish friendships with people of different ages. Older people can benefit from the mental and physical speed of younger people. Younger people can learn new things from older people.
- Maintaining a romantic relationship also stimulates our brains in a number of ways. Obviously, this relationship should not be the cause of intense and constant suffering.
- Seek professional help if the isolation situation is severe. Help lines and social centers are a good place to start. The assistance of a psychologist can also be of great help.
In this way, the development and activation of the brain will always be ensured. For younger people, the brain will mature through socialization. For the older ones, it will stay active and will not deteriorate as quickly. After all, human beings are social beings. So, why not promote socialization to improve our brain health?
Our thoughts There are many ways to explain everything involved in social relationships. George C. Homans did this through his theory of social exchange …
