Social Support Systems

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Dave Philpott

Mr. Michael Cox

PSY220 Positive Psychology

10 January 2014

The Importance of Social Support Systems

As I write this sentence it is 6:05 p.m., and I am starving. Not literally, of course; I last

ate at noon as perhaps hundreds of thousands of people in my time-zone did. It has been six

hours since I ate last, though, and I am hungry.

So, why havent I eaten yet? I have food readily available in the cabinet, in the

refrigerator, in the pantry; I could have a sandwich made in the time it would take to write the

next paragraph. But, I wont make a sandwich, or look for food, or even think about eating yet,

because Im waiting for my wife to come home. And, according to writer / artist Scott McCloud,

my refusal to acknowledge my hunger is an artistic endeavor.

In his deconstruction of comic books titled Understanding Comics, McCloud states

humans have two biological imperatives, survival and reproduction. Everything else, McCloud

surmises, is art (McCloud, 1993, p. 164). I am currently denying myself food, which goes against

my survival instinct, and by McClouds reckoning must be art. I would argue that should I eat

before my wife gets home, I may be putting my life in jeopardy, or at the very least, blowing a

chance at that other biological imperative.

Why is it so important to eat in groups? What makes us social creatures? The

Smithsonian Institute says it is survival. In a web article titled What Does It Mean to Be

Human? the authors give evidence of early humans gathering together to rest,make tools, and

eat, forming social groups some two million years ago. The article suggests these groups ensured


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the survival of the individual, the societal unit, and ultimately the species. Humans may be

egocentric, but historically our longevity is attributed to how well we play with others.

Today, we can usually feast alone, safe in the knowledge some wayward tribe or

aggressive carnivore isnt going to eat us. But the instincts are deeply buried, and the need to be

with others goes beyond group safety. Psychologically, we need each other. Without human

contact, we tend to fall apart emotionally. John Cacioppo, psychologist at the University of

Chicago, reports loneliness may have profound physiological effects as well:

Increase in the risk for suicide

Higher levels of perceived stress

Inability to use relationships to relieve stress Elevated levels of stress hormones Elevated blood pressure Lack of quality sleep

Social support is therefore critical to our well-being (Marano, 2003.)

The Mayo Clinics website,www.mayoclinic.org,considers social support paramount to

fighting the negative effects of stress. The people in our everyday lives make up a network of

potential support, able to help us in times of stress and depression. This network provides many

benefits leading to stability, happiness, and psychological health.

Social support provides us with the knowledge we are part of a larger group with kindred

interests. Often we take comfort in knowing we have allies and that we are not alone. By

supporting each other, we acknowledge the value in each other, and therefore help foster each

others self-esteem. The Mayo Clinic also suggests we, like our distant ancestors, enjoy a sense

of security among our network of supporters.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/http://www.mayoclinic.org/http://www.mayoclinic.org/http://www.mayoclinic.org/


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The network we establish can consist of friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and

people with common interests. We can find support in many places, including church, school, the

gym, online, and through groups of interest such as chess clubs. One important aspect of having

a support group is being an active part of the group, remembering to give support as well as

receive (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2012.)

We start our lives with our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and other family members

as our social support system. We go to school and develop friendships, join clubs, and hone our

social skills, learning how to interact with other humans. We learn the magic of meeting a

stranger, recognizing commonality, and fostering a relationship. All the while we are struggling

to be independent, we are also realizing the importance of dependency. As adults we enter a new

phase where we are in contact with fewer people, but the relationships become stronger. Soon we

start families of our own, and begin new social support systems, teaching our children the

lessons we learned over two million years ago.

I am fortunate to have a core group of friends, some of whom Ive had for thirty years. I

dont have much family, but I have my own family to support. If I need someone, I have several

outlets in my network. And I am always available for the people who need me.

References


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(3 January 2014). What does it mean to be human?Retrieved 10 January 2014 from

http://humanorigins.si.edu/human-characteristics/social.

Marano, H. (1 July 2003). The dangers of loneliness.Retrieved 10 January 2014 from

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200308/the-dangers-loneliness.

Mayo Clinic Staff. (1 August 2012). Social support: tap this tool to beat stress. Retrieved 10

January 2014 from http://www.mayoclinic.org/social-support/art-20044445?pg=1.

McCloud, S. (1993). Understanding comics. New York, NY: HarperCollins.

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Social Support Systems