Mastodawn

“The deepest need of man, then,” the psychologist Erich Fromm once wrote, “is the need to overcome his separateness, to leave the prison of his aloneness.” Picture a couple kissing, a carpenter rapt while working his craft, an astrophysicist at full attention gazing at the cosmos, a nun at prayer. Those are people transcending the boundaries of the self.
#relationships #love #intimacy #sociology #culture #psychology #behavior
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/02/opinion/americans-marriage-loneliness-love.html

Opinion | The Importance of Love and Marriage for an Increasingly Loveless America

America is becoming more loveless: less dating, less marriage, less friendship, less patriotism. But love outside of self is what makes life meaningful.

The New York Times

Philip N Cohen 7h ago

"Bullies and Assholes in the #Sociology of Religion." This is about Christian Smith and Rodney Stark, obviously, and a great email thread from 2009. By Ryan Cragun.

Bullies and Assholes in the So...

Bullies and Assholes in the Sociology of Religion – Ryan Cragun

Protyus A. Gendher 17h ago

And we question the rules and we question the game
And we question why on Earth everyone is still playing
And we question the things that others can’t see
And we get to question everything #anthropology #autism #fittingin #belonging #family #friends #school #sociology #social

http://invisiblymisdiagnosed.com/2026/01/05/5-i-wanna-play-3/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

5) I Wanna Play

The post “I Wanna Play” by Protyus A. Gendher reflects on the author’s experiences with isolation and societal exclusion throughout childhood and adulthood. Through evocative poet…

Survivor Literacy

Paul Graham Raven 23h ago

if the house keeps winning they’ll just burn it down

One of the previous year's surprisingly difficult lessons has been the need to stop considering reportage from the US as in any way representative of a baseline for circumstances elsewhere.

https://www.velcro-city.co.uk/if-the-house-keeps-winning-theyll-just-burn-it-down/

#Futures #InfrastructuralTheory #Politics #Sociology

if the house keeps winning they’ll just burn it down – Velcro City Tourist Board

Protyus A. Gendher 1d ago

Human beings are very creative about how they create a surveillance state.
#panopticon #foucault #surveillance #police #state #sociology #anthropology #writer

http://invisiblymisdiagnosed.com/2026/01/04/35-the-panopticon-2/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

35) The Panopticon

The content discusses the concept of the Panopticon and its implications in everyday life, reflecting on how surveillance influences behavior. It shares personal anecdotes of growing up in a commun…

Survivor Literacy

Jack C.M 1d ago

What were books like in ancient Greece and Rome? Via @sciencex.physorg #archeology #History #Anthropology #sociology

What were books like in ancien...

What were books like in ancient Greece and Rome?

If you were to visit a bookshop in the ancient world, what would it be like?

Phys.org

SPQR 2d ago

In adulthood, open friendship markets become harder to find. But there’s a key to finding new ones: a shifting sense of self. We define ourselves through our relationships with friends. These connections help us to construct our desired selves, who we are, and who we are becoming.
#relaitonships #friendship #sociology #community #networks #culture
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/opinion/friendship-markets-new-friends.html

Opinion | I Study Friendship. Here’s How You Make Lasting Friends.

People’s ability to make new friends reflects the strength of the “friendship market” they are in.

The New York Times

Jack C.M 2d ago

It Wasn't Food! Human Farming Began For a Really Bizarre Reason: BEER! Via @whatdamath #archeology #History #Anthropology #sociology #Agriculture 🧑‍🌾 #Farming 🚜 youtu.be/OLqgtyFyJ1o?...

It Wasn't Food! Human Farming ...

Weird! Human Farming Began For a Really Bizarre Reason: BEER!

YouTube

Joshua McNeill 2d ago

Break my unscientifically constructed #theory!

#Axioms:
1. People performing service jobs for which they volunteered can't have their performance criticized by service recipients b/c they aren't being paid.
2. People performing service jobs who are being paid also can't be criticized b/c they're not paid enough
3. People who make enough money to be criticized are immune to criticism b/c they have lots of power

Theory: Criticism is not possible within #capitalism

#sociology #anthropology

Marc Moelders 2d ago

Another interesting take: If mere revelation does not trigger change, it may be more about asking why something is resonating right now and for whom. Reminds German readers of trigger points ("Triggerpunkte") by sociologists
Steffen Mau, Thomas Lux, @LWestheuser

https://www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/from-fact-checking-to-friction-checking/

#sociology #journalism

2/3

From fact-checking to friction-checking

"In 2026, the most pressing question will not be 'What is true?' but 'Why is this story resonating right now and for whom?'"

Nieman Lab