W e have groups to thank for civilization. Had we never found our way to living together in small clans and bands, we would never have grown into communities, towns, and cities. We would never have developed complex language and culture. That means no Jane Austen, no Wizard of Oz, no Aretha Franklin, no New York Yankees. 1 Linnda Caporael, a professor of science and technology, has drawn on research in paleontology, anthropology, and psychology to account for the development of groups and social life in early human history. Writing with a team of colleagues, she lays out the basic logic of how groups shaped our evolution: Natural selection is a process that adapts organisms to their environments. For group living to evolve, the advantages would have to outweigh the disadvantages. Basically, individuals who grouped would have more offspring compared to individuals who lived solitary lives. 2 Caporael points out that grouping together has inherent disadvantages: "Parasites and disease spread more easily in groups than among solitary critters" and groups always face the problem of "free riders" who draw energy and resources from the group but give little in return. For humans, as for other creatures from crows to coyotes, however, the benefits of group living outweighed the drawbacks. Groups Process Output Input Group process immediately resets input variables (e.g., attitudes, roles) Credit: Public domain. Outdoor Adventure Challenge Course high ropes element at the University of Central Florida.