In situations were one is manifestly surrounded by more or less near kin it is genetically adaptive to be collectivist; in situations where one is encompassed with others only very distantly related it is adaptive to be an individualist. Thus it is probable that "individualism" as a widespread behavioural characteristic emerges as a result of of an influx of population from several sources, diluting kin-density, or a major shift or mixing and relocation of the population. Indeed, it may be taken as an axiom that mobile populations will tend to become individualist over time.