Social: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Connect

Why are we influenced by the behaviour of complete strangers? Why does the brain register similar pleasure when I perceive something as 'fair' or when I eat chocolate? Why can we be so profoundly hurt by bereavement? What are the evolutionary benefits of these traits? The young discipline of 'social cognitive neuroscience' has been exploring this fascinating interface between brain science and human behaviour since the late 1990s. Now one of its founding pioneers, Matthew D. Lieberman, presents the discoveries that he and fellow researchers have made. Using fMRI scanning and a range of other techniques, they have been able to see that the brain responds to social pain and pleasure the same way as physical pain and pleasure; and that unbeknown to ourselves, we are constantly 'mindreading' other people so that we can fit in with them. It is clear that our brains are designed to respond to and be influenced by others. For good evolutionary reasons, he argues, we are wired to be social. The implications are numerous and profound. Do we have to rethink what we understand by identity, and free will? How can managers improve the way their teams relate and perform?Could we organize large social institutions in ways that would work far better? And could there be whole new methods of education?

“We are an intensely social species.  Everyone knows that.  But, from that basic truth, Matthew Lieberman mines a mother lode of insights that are both unexpected and genuinely worth using to better our lives.” -Robert B. Cialdini, author of Influence
"Absolutely fascinating — necessary, even." -Brain Pickings

“Compelling evidence is emerging that shows that, more than money or other extrinsic incentives, the human brain gets a hefty reward by forging connections with others. That evidence, much of it uncovered by Lieberman, a pioneer of social cognitive neuroscience, is presented in a collegial manner in this often-surprising account... With the details from study after study, many of them based on imaging scans that examine activity in certain parts of the brain, Lieberman’s book is perfect for Malcolm Gladwell fans who want to delve much deeper into the biology behind our social abilities. The investigations reveal the impressive social abilities we hold, often unappreciated but noticeable when lacking in others, and so ingrained they may influence our very sense of self.” –Booklist
“Social reveals that our brains are made for connecting, not only for thinking. Matt Lieberman, a pioneering expert in social neuroscience, explains why fairness tastes like chocolate, why heartache can hurt more than a headache, and how we can use this knowledge to improve our lives at home, school, and work.” -Adam Grant, Wharton professor and bestselling author of Give and Take

"Social is the book I've been waiting for: a brilliant and beautiful exploration of how and why we are wired together, by one of the field's most prescient pioneers." -Daniel Gilbert, professor, Harvard University, bestselling author of Stumbling On Happiness

“Social is as full of surprising twists and insights as a Dan Brown novel (and as fun to read, too).  Social unmasks the secret to our success as a species - our fundamentally social nature - and explains the origins, brain bases, and everyday applicability of our social superpowers.”  -Kevin Ochsner, professor, Columbia University
 
"One of the most compelling and engaging books about how human beings really work that I've ever read. It literally changed how I see the world." -David Rock, director, NeuroLeadership Institute, author of Your Brain at Work
 
“At last, a book that really does put the social into social neuroscience, and, more importantly, does it in a way that layman and scientist alike can read with pleasure.” -Robin Dunbar, Professor, University of Oxford
 
"Vivid stories and cutting-edge neuroscience come together to explain just how connected we really are.  Lieberman's prose is fluid, and his ideas fascinating, making Social a must-read pleasure for anyone who cares about the  human condition and the science that reveals us as social beings." – Susan Fiske, Professor, Princeton University

“This fascinating, beautifully written book brings the exciting research on our social nature and the brain to life” – Shelley Taylor, distinguished professor, UCLA, author of The Tending Instinct

"Humans are exquisitely social. This is a beautifully written and compelling account of how and why this is the case, written by one of the world’s leading authorities on the social brain. Matthew Lieberman covers multiple areas of cutting edge research, including studies of primate social groups, the psychology of human love and friendship, and the brain basis of empathy and altruism. This captivating book will enthrall a very wide audience, from the general reader who has no previous knowledge of the brain to students and academics in the field of cognitive neuroscience and social psychology." - Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, Professor, University College of London

"A highly engaging read from one of the pioneers of the emerging field of social cognitive neuroscience. By reviewing what has recently been discovered about unique human talents, such as self-control, mindreading, empathy, Lieberman presents a compelling case that the human brain is wired to be social.  Highly recommended for its accessible introduction to social neuroscience as well as its practical lessons for living more satisfying lives." -Todd Heatherton, Lincoln Filene Professor, Dartmouth College
 
"In this engaging book, Mathew Lieberman, one of the leaders and pioneers in social neuroscience, shows how and why our brains are wired to connect, how that influences what we think, feel, and do, and makes it clear why it matters." -Walter Mischel, Niven Professor of Humane Letters in Psychology, Columbia University
 
"The scientific field that became cognitive neuroscience began in the 19th century, strangely enough, with discoveries on the human brain's language processing.  Not long after, however, the isolated case of Phineas Gage tumbled onto the scene and announced, more than a century in advance, what would become social neuroscience.  In “Social”, Matthew Lieberman, one of the leaders of this now-established effort, provides a thoughtful and lively review of recent findings and of the implications for this important area of inquiry." -Antonio Damasio, USC professor and author of Descartes’ Error and Self Comes to Mind