A property or characteristic that describes the degree to which components of a system, material, or group are united, connected, and form a unified whole.

Cohesive

Cohesion represents the fundamental force or principle that holds things together, manifesting across multiple domains from the physical to the social. This property is essential for understanding both natural phenomena and human-made systems.

Physical Cohesion

In materials science, cohesion refers to the molecular attraction between particles of the same substance. This force explains several important phenomena:

Surface tension in liquids
Crystal formation in solids
adhesion properties in materials
Structural integrity of substances

Social Cohesion

In group dynamics and sociology, cohesion describes the bonds that keep social groups united:

Shared values and beliefs
Common goals and objectives
Mutual trust and support
collective identity

Linguistic Cohesion

In writing and communication, cohesive elements create flow and logical connection between ideas:

Transitional phrases
Consistent themes
Reference words
coherence in argument structure

Measuring Cohesiveness

The degree of cohesion can be evaluated through various metrics:

Physical measurements (tensile strength, surface tension)
Social metrics (group retention, participation rates)
Textual analysis (readability scores, connection density)

Applications

Cohesive properties are crucial in many fields:

Engineering: Material design and construction
Team Management: Building effective groups
Writing: Creating clear, connected text
systems thinking: Understanding interconnections

Challenges and Limitations

While cohesion is generally beneficial, excessive cohesion can lead to:

groupthink in social settings
Brittleness in materials
Resistance to necessary change
adaptation difficulties

Related Concepts

The study of cohesion connects to several important principles:

bonding at molecular levels
social networks in human systems
entropy as an opposing force
emergence in complex systems

Understanding cohesion is essential for anyone working with systems, materials, or groups, as it provides insight into how components work together to create stable, functional wholes.