It’s Like We’ve Known Each Other Our Whole Lives
People are magnetic - okay not really - we have magnetic qualities. We all have people in our lives who felt like lifelong friends even though we just met them. Do you know what it is that drives you towards some people and away from others? This edition of Know Your Sheet highlights an article by Pratt and Sackett revealing the amazing accuracy of this naturally occurring selection mechanism.
The Article: Selection of Social Partners as a Function of Peer Contact during Rearing (1967)
Authors: Charles L. Pratt and Gene P. Sackett
Publishing Journal: Science
Research Agency/University: University of Wisconsin, Madison
Funding Source: Undisclosed
In a Nutshell:
Survival requires a partner with the same or similar survival requirements, known as a conspecific. The nuances of similarity of an individual’s survival-relevant experience plays a key role in finding peers. Using monkeys raised in differing intensities of isolation the researchers found that the degrees of isolation were immediately perceivable to a stranger monkey. The monkeys preferred other monkeys raised in the same level of isolation they had experienced even though they were strangers. Their preferences could differentiate early versus late isolation, rate of engagement, and whether or not the stranger monkey had experienced several or few familiar monkeys. Monkeys spontaneously rejected monkeys reared in intensities of isolation different from their own. The researchers could discern no cues regarding the discrimination process.
Why this Article Matters to you:
If youth do not perceive conspecific parity with their staff you can expect them to disregard that staff’ direction, and act out on their shift
Staff who do not share conspecific parity with fellow staff are more likely to leave the facility which increases turnover
Youth who do not perceive conspecific parity with peers in their milieu may act out or become isolative on the unit
Opportunities for Immediate Application:
Pair your frontline staff. Fostering healthy conspecific parity between staff can increase staff retention and morale.
Address staff who call out one youth more frequently or with more intensity than other youth. Unhealthy conspecific parity between youth and staff can present a vulnerability for that staff.