The study of how groups of conscious beings collectively shape each other's inner experiences through culture, language, and the simple act of being together. It examines why laughter is contagious, why crowds develop a shared mood, and why being alone in a room full of people feels different from actually being alone. It's the field that asks: if consciousness is private, how do we manage to synchronize it so effectively at concerts, protests, and awkward family dinners? The answer seems to be something like "vibes," which is not a scientific term but is apparently accurate.
Example: "A consciousness social sciences study observed that when one person in a meeting yawned, the entire room would follow within 90 seconds. This unconscious synchronization suggested that despite their individual private awarenesses, the group was operating as a single, slightly bored, collective consciousness. The researchers then yawned and went to lunch."
by Nammugal February 14, 2026
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