What's the most fundamental common denominator in human interaction?

Necessity

Hunger.

Survival.

Diplomacy.

selfishness.

Desire.

I would say selfishness (selfishness can be a positive or negative trait).

Q: What’s the most fundamental common denominator in human interaction?
A: Fit in by making fun of the guy who is different.

Happiness. We all want to feel happy and make people we know happy. All other emotions will follow suit.

Language?

Selfishness.

While there are some people that genuinely derive joy from bringing joy to others, the real reason they are bringing joy is to bring themselves joy, which is selfish in a way. And the less altruistic among us enjoy profiting at the expense of others, which is selfish beyond doubt.

That said, greed is good. Without the selfish people who derive joy from bringing joy to others, our world would be utter Hell, and without the selfish people seeking to turn a profit from never-been-done-before ideas, our world would be stagnant.

Reciprocity. Do onto others as you would have them do unto you, or its reciprocal, What you would not wish done to you, do not do to tohers.

It is recorded that Confucius gave this answer when asked by his disciple, Zi gong: “Is there any one word that could guide a person throughout life?”
The Master replied: “How about ‘shu’ [reciprocity]: never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself?”

In the simple wisdom of the Golden Rule lies all of the law, morality and the key to human interaction.

As far as interaction goes… Selfishness is underlying those of hunger, need, loneliness,

Need- We are remembered only when we are needed.

After the last week, I feel like the answer is “empathy.” I don’t know if that is always true, but at this moment it feels most accurate.

Curiosity. We want to know what others are thinking, what they may say and how they will react to us. Even to those we know well personally there is a curiosity factor I believe. The fear of pain (physically and emotionally) and death may be another one.

It depends on what you mean… if you mean what is most common to all interaction, I say survival, too. If you mean what would be most helpful in achieving good interaction, I’d go with empathy.

Love. We all want to connect and be known and feel loved; like we belong. This gives us a huge survival advantage. If we are loved, people want to be with us and help us and bear our children (or give us children). Love really does make the world go ‘round.

Do you mean human reciprocal action or influence? If so, then a fundamental feature shared by all members of a group is a need or desire.

I’ve used the definitions from http://oxforddictionaries.com/?region=us for interaction, common denominator, need and desire

If you meant human relationships, then:

violence is behavior exhibiting physical force
greed is selfish desire for something
charity is the voluntary giving of something that is needed, be it kindness, tolerance or money
compassion is the concern for others and their misfortunes
apathy is a lack of interest, enthusiasm or concern
empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others

and of those, empathy is fundamental to the others except for apathy, those two are exclusive of each other.

Note that not all people have empathy or compassion. Therefore, I cannot consider them “common denominators” as I have run into many people who have less of one or both of those traits than my nightstand.

Maybe I misunderstand the question.

@jerv. True that not all people exhibit empathy or compassion. Consider that empathy is an ability, neither positive nor negative in and of itself. It can certainly be experienced in the negative such as violence and greed. Compassion is an emotion and is certainly not being felt if anger and violence are all a person’s thinking. Apathy usually means that the empathic ability is turned off, or at low ebb. Of all the traits that have been listed, empathy is an ability that we use everyday, in our interactions with others, in a positive form or a negative form. When we are alone, empathy is at rest, so to speak, but we might still feel anger or sympathy or greed or charity.

@filmfann Is there an English word for what you describe?

I love you @ANef_is_Enuf.

Acceptance/approval

Yeah ya got dat right!

I couldn’t have said it bettah muysewf @linguaphile.

Fear of being alone.

Instinct

@augustlan “It depends on what you mean…”

@DaphneT “Do you mean…”

I enjoy and encourage you to interpret this Q and take it where you will.

I heard a philosophy podcast yesterday and the speaker claimed that violence was the lowest common denominator amongst all human interactions.

I didn’t really like the sound of that. And I didn’t like his choice of word “lowest”. As if that word were chosen to further support the claim of violence. So I changed “lowest” to “fundamental” and thought to ask the collective. I think it’s great that nobody said violence.

@RealEyesRealizeRealLies perhaps the speaker was using the word lowest in the sense that it was the worst choice on which to base human interactions. I know it would be the worst choice, but that doesn’t keep me from considering it when I become frustrated with the way things are. Also there are many reports where violence is the choice of protestors, revolutionists, militants, rational governments as a way to force humans to interact in a new way as a way to appease these feelings of frustration and impotence.

The most powerful force in the use of violence is others’ fear that violence will be used. The fear of violence being used against oneself is a powerful motivator to stay ‘in line.’

Maybe that’s what the speaker was referring to—not just the use of violence, but the fear of violence being used.

I can only speak for myself and my motives in my interactions with others, which is a genuine desire to connect and share.
Sadly, as our world and culture becomes increasingly narcissistic and self centered many “acts” of generosity or supposed communion with others ARE born of selfish and self interested motives.

I just read an article about whether or not narcissistic altruism is unethical.
Doing the right thing for the wrong reasons?
I suppose if the outcome is beneficial to others the end result is positive, but, personally, one of my biggest pet peeves in disingenuity.

Nothing will cause me to drop any relationship quicker than to discover anothers covert manipulative motives in any given situation.

I also think that a lack of true listening skill is rampant in our self centered world.
It is rare indeed for anyone to really, truly, HEAR another.

I am constantly observing how little others really listen, if you pay attention it is astounding!

M&Ms?