Showing results for "The Stranger" in Social Psychology & Interactions

In our cities, we stand in silent buses and tube carriages, barely acknowledging one another. Online, we retreat into silos and carefully curate who we interact with. But while we often fear strangers, or blame them for the ills of society, history and science show us that they are actually our solution. Throughout human history, our attitude to the stranger has determined the fate and wellbeing of both nations and individuals. A raft of new science confirms that the more we open ourselves up to encounters with those we don't know, the healthier we are.

How did humans, a species of self-centered apes, come to care about others? Since Darwin, scientists have tried to answer this question using evolutionary theory. In The Kindness of Strangers, psychologist Michael E. McCullough shows why they have failed and offers a new explanation instead. From the moment nomadic humans first settled down until the aftermath of the Second World War, our species has confronted repeated crises that we could only survive by changing our behavior.

Do you struggle with starting conversations or keeping them going? Do you often find yourself at a loss for words, or feel like your interactions lack depth and meaning? Do you want to make a stronger first impression, build rapport quickly, and leave a lasting impact on those you meet? If so, help is at hand!

Introducing new methods to help you banish anxiety and strike up a conversation with anyone, even if you’ve suffered from shyness your entire life. Do you feel helpless in social situations? Is it difficult to hold a conversation with people you don’t know? Are you struggling to navigate the complexities of social interaction due to shyness, social anxiety, or low self-confidence?

After decades of affluence, we’re busy renovating our homes, buffing and botoxing our bodies and losing ourselves in passive entertainment and shopping, as depression and anxiety soar. And with the arrival of Netflix and Uber Eats, there’s less and less incentive to leave home. Could our constant need for connection be messing with our brains? Is this why we’re losing our ability to strike up a conversation with anyone we don’t know? And given that so many of our kids lack one-on-one attention and regular touch, are we raising this new generation to be profoundly lonely?