I’m trying to think through a loose “friction” metaphor for social systems. In physics, friction is not always bad: it can make movement possible, but repeated contact can also produce wear. Socially, I’m wondering if connection, cooperation, care, and institutional interaction also involve hidden or cumulative costs. Some friction may be necessary for coordination and stability, while excessive or unevenly distributed friction may wear down trust, motivation, health, or the capacity to remain connected. I know some established concepts cover parts of this space: - administrative burden: procedural/compliance costs - hidden curriculum: implicit expectations or unstated rules - emotional labor: affective regulation costs - coordination costs: interaction/alignment costs - allostatic load: cumulative physiological/psychological wear from chronic stress I have also come across terms like institutional viscosity, structural viscosity, coordination friction, and newer formulations such as “Coordination Friction…