Dunbar's number

Under the Dunbar number ( Dunbar's number ) is the theoretical cognitive limit to the number of people with whom an individual can maintain social relationships. The concept was developed by the anthropologist Robin Dunbar. The Dunbar number describes the number of persons in which somebody may know the names and the essential relationships.

Dunbar sees the number as a property or function of the neocortex. In general, amounts to the Dunbar number 150, with the number of friends could vary individually between 100 and 250. Whether it also applies to so-called virtual social networking, is the subject of scientific debate.