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Loved Ones
Closest, most intimate relationships (family, partners, best friends).
Good Friends
Strong, meaningful connections. Trusted confidants and close friends.
Meaningful Relationships
Close colleagues, extended family, neighbors, or regular group members.
Stable Relationships
People you know well and maintain regular contact with. The classic "Dunbar's number."
Acquaintances
People you recognize and have some familiarity with, but not close contact.
Recognizable Faces
People you can recognize by face or name, but have no personal relationship with.
How Social Circles Expand
According to Dunbar, social relationships are organized in expanding circles. The innermost circle consists of loved ones (about 5 people), followed by good friends (15), meaningful relationships (50), stable relationships (150), acquaintances (500), and finally, people you can recognize (1500).
Each level represents a different degree of intimacy, frequency of contact, and emotional closeness. The size and composition of these circles can change over time as relationships evolve and new ones are formed.
While Dunbar's number is often cited as a hard limit, it is a theory—individuals may vary in the number of stable social relationships they can maintain. Use these bands as a guide for building believable social networks in your stories and worlds.
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Loved Ones
Closest, most intimate relationships (family, partners, best friends).
Good Friends
Strong, meaningful connections. Trusted confidants and close friends.
Meaningful Relationships
Close colleagues, extended family, neighbors, or regular group members.
Stable Relationships
People you know well and maintain regular contact with. The classic "Dunbar's number."
Acquaintances
People you recognize and have some familiarity with, but not close contact.
Recognizable Faces
People you can recognize by face or name, but have no personal relationship with.
How Social Circles Expand
According to Dunbar, social relationships are organized in expanding circles. The innermost circle consists of loved ones (about 5 people), followed by good friends (15), meaningful relationships (50), stable relationships (150), acquaintances (500), and finally, people you can recognize (1500).
Each level represents a different degree of intimacy, frequency of contact, and emotional closeness. The size and composition of these circles can change over time as relationships evolve and new ones are formed.
While Dunbar's number is often cited as a hard limit, it is a theory—individuals may vary in the number of stable social relationships they can maintain. Use these bands as a guide for building believable social networks in your stories and worlds.
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