We're all pals together

Human culture is about survival of the friendliest, says John Edward Terrell, the curator of oceanic archaeology and ethnology at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, and an expert on the biological, cultural, and linguistic diversity of modern Pacific Islanders.

"..People often have a grim view of what it means to be human. There’s this conception that inside each of us is a Mr. Hyde—an evilness that’s dying to get out…Yet it’s pretty clear that we cannot survive on our own. Our personalities and our knowledge are so tied up in our relationships with others. As a species we are remarkably talented, not just at thinking up new ways to kill other people, but also at turning strangers into friends…

…Evolving the capacity to read the behavior of others and to develop trusting relationships, as humans have, opens the door to the world beyond the confines of immediate kin and nearby neighbors….

…Natural selection isn’t just about individuals or groups competing with one another in the struggle for existence. Humans have to cope with a world that can rain down disease, floods, famine, and other natural afflictions. Our friendships and social networks have the potential to extend the range of people we can call upon and learn from, and this can buffer us against the trials and tribulations of life….

…the Internet and social networking sites have tremendous potential to make the foreign not seem so foreign any more. Even a simple thing like clicking “Like” on someone’s Facebook post is sending a friendly signal to someone you may never have met…."