The Power Of Others

Description

Teenage cliques, football squads, jihadist cells, army units, Arab Spring protesters, polar expeditions - on the face of it, the dedication of these groups might seem exceptional, but the forces that bind and drive them are accessible to all of us. In recent decades, psychologists have uncovered how and why our innate socialness holds huge sway over how we think and act, propelling us to both high achievement and unthinking cruelty. We are beholden to our peers, even when we think we're calling the shots. This is the power of others. Acclaimed science writer Michael Bond investigates the breakthrough science of group behaviour, with case studies revealing how to build better teamwork, identify shared motivations and objectives, survive moments of isolation, break up destructive groups, and truly grasp our social selves.

Author description

Michael Bond has been writing on psychology and human behaviour for more than fifteen years as a regular contributor to New Scientist, Nature, Prospect, the Observer, the Daily Telegraph, the Financial Times, and others. During the Arab Spring, he also served as lead researcher for the Royal Society report on science in Egypt. He lives in London.