synnin

Synnin is a fictional concept used in speculative fiction and worldbuilding to describe a form of collective cognition that arises in dense, interdependent societies. The core idea is that shared memories, rituals, and norm scripts create a feedback loop that stabilizes social expectations and enables rapid coordination in times of stress.

In many works, synnin is described as a non-material field or resonance that individuals sense and respond to, aligning attitudes and actions without explicit orders. Etymology: the term is a coinage, not drawn from a specific real language; authors have suggested it blends notions of synchronization and inner mind, emphasizing unity.

In fictional settings, synnin can be cultivated or dampened through storytelling, rituals, and education, affecting governance, justice, and social stability. It may be portrayed as something leaders can invoke to gain consent or as a phenomenon communities work to strengthen or temper in response to conflict or crisis.

Reception and analysis: some scholars use synnin metaphorically to discuss collective memory and moral psychology, but it remains outside mainstream disciplines as a formal concept. It is primarily encountered within worldbuilding narratives and discussions about cultural cohesion rather than as an established scientific theory.

See also: collective memory, social norms, moral psychology, cultural cognition.