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title: The Social Slope Effect
created: 2025-12-30T09:21:54
modified: 2025-12-30T09:30:56
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> _If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together._
>
> 一個人走得快，一群人走得遠。

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一加一大於二

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Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.

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United we stand, divided we fall.

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Challenges and struggles are inevitable, but facing them alone is optional.

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[@schnallSocialSupportPerception2008]

> The challenge doesn’t change, but the perception of that challenge does.

In the first study, the researchers had a group of participants stand at the base of a steep 26° hill wearing a heavy backpack. Some of the participants were alone, while others were paired with a friend. Then they asked the participants to estimate the hill’s steepness.

The findings were fascinating:

* Participants who were paired with a friend estimated the hill to be significantly less steep than those who were alone.
* Relationship duration with the friend correlated negatively with perceived steepness. The longer the friendship, the gentler the hill appeared.

In a follow-up study, the researchers had the participants stand alone and simply imagine either a supportive person (friend), neutral person (store clerk), or negative person (someone who had betrayed them).

Once again, the results were clear:

* Participants who imagined a supportive person saw the hill as less steep than those who imagined neutral or negative people.
* The closeness and warmth of the imagined relationship were negatively correlated with perceived steepness. The better the relationship, the gentler the hill appeared.