Patterns: Our Adaptive Nature At Work

3). Pick one concept from the assigned reading that you found useful or interesting and discuss it.

The “patterns” that result from the interactions people have brings up some interesting points (Trenholm p. 34). First, it speaks a lot about human’s adaptive capability, and secondly, how these patterns affect our lives.

As humans we learn to adapt to our surroundings and take whatever steps are needed in order to find an easier path. Resistance and pain are not at the forefront of our desires. As Trenholm discusses the evolution of pattern-making what I see is really an adaptation by individuals who shape their interactions based upon fruitful and unfruitful moves. For instance, if Harry realizes that Sally will not like him because he makes fun of her freckles he will stop if he wants to keep her as a friend. The fact that people learn and become accustomed to this interaction is amazing, especially considering the people who retain friendships and marriages for multiple decades! They have honed the craft of establishing positive patterns.

Secondly, it can be said that people’s lives are formed around these patterns. Family members who will not speak to each other because their interaction results into negative outcomes will go out of their way to avoid each other. This affects their offspring, their network ties, sometimes their friends, and the list goes on.

Ways of life are determined based upon these patterns. It speaks volumes of our human nature as we adjust to our communication arenas, and it also says a lot about the the results of our decisions.