ABSTRACT
Throughout history, in response to problems that were often created by the previous culture, societies have shifted back and forth from a dominant focus on "Me" to different variations of an emphasis on "We." Societies that failed to alter their cultural beliefs and practices when conditions changed experienced long periods of social strife and impoverishment, and many perished. Early humans were predominantly hunters and gatherers. Much like a newborn baby, they were almost exclusively focused on satisfying their physiological needs. People lived for the present moment, with little concern for the well-being of others. Even though industrialization made different geographic regions, industries, and sectors of the economy more interlinked than ever before, the form of organization used to manage the system made the interdependency increasingly difficult to see. Until that point in history people performed almost all of the tasks required to meet their basic needs for food, shelter, and warmth.
