The village effect
Subtitle: how face-to-face contact can make us healthier, happier, and smarter
By: Susan Pinker
Edition: First edition.
Published: 2014
Language: eng
Number of pages: 368
ISBN-13: 9781400069576
Subjects: Eye contact; Interpersonal communication; Interpersonal relations; Social interaction
Description: "Resonating with our most profound life experiences, this book explains why we trust other people and form lifelong bonds, and why we ignore these connections at our peril. Pinker answers crucial questions about human relationships in a digital age, such as: How important is face-to-face interaction as children develop new skills, when adults fall in love, when they negotiate business transactions, and as they age? How did humans evolve such finely-tuned barometers of trust and betrayal--and do these mechanisms work if you're not face-to-face with your partner? Why are women so often the catalysts of social change? To understand these questions, Pinker turns to compelling human stories combined with cutting-edge science"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Introduction: People who need people; title: Swimming through the school of hard knocks : how social bonds can rejig the outcome of chronic disease; title: It takes a village to raise a centenarian : longevity as a team sport; title: A thousand invisible threads : face-to-face contact and social contagion; title: Who's coming to dinner : food, drink, and social bonds; title: Baby chemistry : how social contact transforms infants' brains; title: Digital natives : electronic devices and children's language development, school progress, and happiness; title: Teens and screens : how digital technology has transformed teens' lives; title: Going to the chapel : face-to-face social networks, love, and marriage; title: When money really talks : social networks, business, and crime; title: Conclusion: Creating the village effect.