Social Glue
The Making of a People
Haptic communication
The Colorful Prince strives to emulate the arch’s physical reciprocity on a social level using nonverbal communication. Similar to the building blocks of the arch, males use committed touch messaging to raise their chance of reproductive success.
Individuals engage in touch exchange through indirect reciprocity, functioning as a collective rather than relying on one-to-one interactions.
This system constitutes a generalized touch exchange, in which an individual provides a benefit to another, who in turn receives reciprocal benefits from a third party. Such patterns characterized touch exchanges in small, close-knit communities and extended families.
Receiving indirect reciprocity signifies an individual's social value, as the giver is under no direct obligation. This act represents an energetic investment that sustains the collective network of giving.
The Colorful Prince posits that this traditional, generalized form of touch fosters integrative bonds characterized by heightened trust, affection, and solidarity, surpassing those found in contemporary forms of intimacy. According to this rationale, meaningful participation is essential. One does have skin in the game.
However, for loss-averse people, there are dangers, as indirect reciprocity is a highly risky commitment.
