Social Affinity Flow Theory

Abstract

This article presents a new theoretical construct, Social Affinity Flow Theory (SAFT), which both describes and predicts fl ow phenomena across a diversity of human social systems and is founded upon constructal law. Constructal law and its associated s-curves describe many phenomena, both in nature and in human societies. Extrapolated from the work of Bejan and Zane and integrating social science research, it provides a foundational explanation of social rifts prevalent in many societies today as well as constructive efforts of social change, whether secular or religiously based. A primary example of constructive change explained by SAFT is the community-building work of the Bahá’í Faith, as reflected in both its teachings and its training institute process.

Social Affinity Flow Theory (SAFT) and New Insights into the Systems Archetypes of Escalation and Tragedy of the Commons

“…The causal loop diagrams of the archetypes help a system's participants step outside the context of individual perceptions, biases, and their organization's culture to identify the larger flow patterns at work. In the current predictions for SAFT (both in this paper and Gourdine et al, 2019), the escalation and tragedy of the commons archetypes are the two most directly related archetypes. Though other archetypes may also be eventually explained via SAFT, tragedy of the commons and escalation have several implications that warrant priority for further exploration.…”

“…Step Alternatively, SAFT also predicts that the psychosocial forces can be directed towards pro-social tendencies that lessen differences, attenuate intergroup conflict, give rise to greater cooperation, and foster the long-term well-being of sub-groups and the whole upon which they depend (Gourdine et al, 2019). SAFT postulates these outcomes require deliberate structures and behavioral reinforcements to foster an ethos of common well-being, and concern for the welfare of the whole.…”

“…In a sociological context, SAFT predicts that over time this pattern becomes cultural; when new members enter such environments and join groups, they are taught this way of being and it then becomes an enforced cultural norm (i.e., continued group membership requires conformance with these behaviors). The other prediction of SAFT comes from research showing that humans have more empathy and moral consideration towards their closer associates than those with whom they do not associate (Shelton & McAdams, 1990;McDaniel, Grice & Eason, 2010;Masto, 2015;Gourdine et al, 2019). In social systems this means in groups where people associate with one another more closely and particularly when they share resources, the moral consideration towards one's own group will be higher.…”

“…More recently, a set of researchers independently developed a theoretical framework describing human behavior called Social Affinity Flow Theory (SAFT) (Gourdine et al, 2019). The genesis of the theory is the Constructal Law from physics which states, "a system will evolve over time to accommodate the flows that occur within it" (Bejan & Zane, 2012).…”