It turns out the word biome isn’t only used to describe types of ecological communities like rainforests, deserts, and tundras.
According to Jeffrey Hall, a professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas, and Andy Merolla, a professor of communication at UC Santa Barbara, each person has his or her own social biome—the individual ecosystem of relationships and interactions that shape one’s emotional, psychological, and physical health. And whether or not people know this specific term, many individuals understand the importance of its presence in their lives.
“Social interactions play a big part in my overall well-being,” Dallas-area resident Stacy McKinney said. “I have many monthly game nights, and it’s so great to catch up and have fun and eat good food together.”
People interact with others in a variety of settings, whether it’s ordering coffee from baristas, standing in line with other customers at the grocery store, participating in meetings with colleagues, or a number of other intentional and unintentional exchanges. Like many individuals, Dallas resident Matt McNutt said his daily social encounters can significantly impact his mood and well-being.
“Working remotely makes those everyday interactions—whether it’s chatting with family throughout the week, catching up with friends, or even making an effort to have impromptu conversation at the gym—really meaningful,” he said. “They help keep me grounded.”
Some people welcome various social situations, while others would rather keep them rather limited. However, purposely avoiding such interactions and, instead, isolating and disconnecting can make it more challenging for individuals to endure the social stress involved in being trusted and accountable relational partners. Dallas resident Alivia Brown said she considers herself much more of an extrovert and, even though she does occasionally need space away from others, she enjoys opportunities to engage with those around her.
“It fills me up to talk to my family and friends,” she said. “The more time I spend with my friends, the happier I tend to be. That said, I do definitely need alone time, too, in order to recharge for big social events.”
In their book The Social Biome: How Everyday Communication Connects and Shapes Us, Hall and Merolla pose the notion that our social biomes serve as essential components of our identities and beliefs. While Brown said she believes that this can be true in some capacity, she said at her core, her foundational beliefs are strong enough not to waver.
“While the people I spend my time with do impact them to some extent, I feel like most of the time, my beliefs remain true, irrespective of who I am around,” she said. “I think what changes more is how often I talk about those beliefs. I have many people in my life with many different beliefs than my own, and I think that’s what makes life interesting.”
Similarly, McNutt said he certainly recognizes that his social circles impact his beliefs and values, though more in terms of understanding and other viewpoints.
“I’m close with my family and friends, and we have a lot of open conversations,” he said. “I wouldn’t say that they change my core values, but they definitely help me see things from different perspectives and help me to stay open-minded.”
Harvard researcher Dr. David McClelland spent 25 years studying what makes a person successful, and the research he conducted suggests that between 95 to 99 percent of a person’s success or failure is determined by his or her “reference group” (those with whom one regularly interacts), as a person is influenced by the attitudes, behaviors, and worldviews of such individuals. This notion is one reason some people, including McKinney, find it essential to surround themselves with others who share what’s important to them.
“All of my social circles have my same core values and beliefs,” she said. “After my divorce, I made sure of that and did have to make changes.”
And it’s those individuals who have stood by McKinney through thick and thin, offering trust and support throughout the different seasons of her life.
“I am not sure how I could cope without my groups of friends,” she said.
Existing in your own social biome and ensuring that you interact and communicate with others on a regular basis is not always easy, as life can be busy and exhausting, and sometimes people simply want to hibernate. However, creating space and energy for an active social life can be beneficial, a belief Brown knows to be true in her own life.
“When I moved to Dallas and did not know anyone, I noticed I often felt sad,” she said. “However, the moment I started to find friends and community, it completely transformed the way I felt about the city, myself, and my outlook on life in general.”
Like McKinney and Brown, McNutt has also realized the importance of making efforts to maintain a consistent social life and surrounding himself with individuals who will contribute positively to his social biome.
“Especially after coming out of a long relationship, staying socially active has been key for my mental health,” he said. “It gives me balance, connection, and a strong sense of community—even if it’s just grabbing coffee or calling someone to chat with no agenda.”
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The NatNews staff gathered with dear readers in vintage lighting over the weekend to witness another unfortunate outcome for the Dallas Cowboys