1. The Social Use of Space 173 



ments. First consider Eq. (125). Increasing A^ reduces v of all members. 

 By the time N is only a few times Nb, velocity of all members will be so 

 reduced as to bias the probability of the social system surviving. Minimal 

 velocity implies withdrawal from social interaction and restriction of 

 activities to independent acciuisition of food and water. 



Now, assuming a vm, even though it might exceed 1.0, Fig. 39 suggests 

 that increasing Z will eventually elevate Va to Vm, while v^ remains at Vm 

 as shown in Fig. 38. Once Va reaches Vm, further increase of Z should reduce 

 awareness of the ^^"^ of others to the point that vq departs from Vm and 

 begins to approach vm- At Z = 'x , v^ = Vm. Far before Z = cc , the velocity 

 of all members of N will be maximal for all practical purposes. A state of 

 maximum conformity will then have been attained in which each individual 

 views every other one as so like himself that no individual imposes re- 

 straints on the actions of any associate. All social organization must col- 

 lapse, leaving a state of maximally moving independent particles, the 

 random contact between any two of which will be eciually satisfactory in 

 consummating any interaction in which two individuals are necessary. 

 This state demands equipotency of capacities. Complexity of behaviors will 

 be limited to that degree possible by every individual having identical 

 learning experience. Maximizing Z becomes incompatible with a high 

 state of learning and culture. 



The human species appears to be embarked upon a journey of both 

 maximizing A^ and maximizing Z. If we are to avoid one of the other of 

 the nirvana-like states of uniform v^ or Vm, it behooves us to seek further 

 insight from experimentation with animal groups. 



Returning from theory to reality, we may consider some correlates of 

 velocity. Alost of the lA and 2A rats discussed above survived to autopsy 

 during the 17th month of the study. Each set of males was divided into 

 five velocity class intervals, with as nearly as possible the same number of 

 rats in each velocity range. Associated conditions are graphed in Fig. 40. 

 As velocity increases, the amount of scar tissue derived from fighting 

 increases. The somewhat S-shaped character of this curve conforms with 

 historical events. In general, the more rats withdrew from social interaction 

 by reducing their velocity, the fewer wounds they received. However, a 

 few individuals, though having a very low velocity in late adulthood, were 

 characterized by extensive scar tissue because they failed to withdraw as 

 early in life as had their low velocity comrades. At the other extreme of 

 velocity, territorial males or highly dominant individuals, who were 

 territorial in the time dimension but not in space (i.e., the "changing-of- 

 the-guard" phenomenon through which several males share the dominant 

 role in a particular area) , by their status avoided attack and thus avoided 

 being wounded even though they were extremely active and inflicted 



