The presence of familiar strangers provides a sense of community without the burden of interaction
The concept of the 'familiar stranger' explains how the repeated presence of unacquainted people in our daily lives provides a crucial sense of community without social effort.
Most people recognize between 10 and 20 'familiar strangers'—individuals they see every day on a commute or at a gym but never speak to. Psychologist Stanley Milgram’s 1970s studies on the New York City subway revealed that 60% of commuters were acutely aware of these individuals and felt a sense of loss if they suddenly disappeared. This 'passive' social network provides a feeling of belonging and safety without requiring the metabolic energy of active conversation.
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