The Social Brain: How Diversity Made The Modern Mind

by Richard Crisp

Is conflict caused by an inherently hostile human nature? Are efforts to promote peaceful co-existence fated to fail? Is the story of human history destined to play out a clash of civilizations?

These are the questions framing contemporary debate over diversity, immigration and multiculturalism. The Social Brain provides an entirely new psychological perspective on this debate. It argues that diversity is critical to our very survival as a species; that contact with different cultures was, and is, the essential element that fuels our creativity, innovation and growth. It asserts that diversity was the key to our intellectual evolution and will be integral to helping us tackle the most pressing social, political and economic concerns of our time.

The Social Brain ties the origins of the modern mind to the evolution of human society, and provides an entirely new insight into how we can harness the ingenuity and invention that reside within us all.

Genres: Nonfiction

171 pages, Paperback

Published October 22, 2015

Reviews

[Daniel Park · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book had some fascinating titbits about how humans are wired to prefer their own groups even if its at the most abstract level and how we get past that via coalitional thinking, how to improve interaction with other cultures and the cognitive benefits of living in a different culture.

The main down side was the grandiose nature of some of the claims in the book felt disconnected from the title and didn't go into enough depth and topic areas to cover the complexities of the overall claim.

[Zul Azlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing

[Anne Goodwin]

Citing research demonstrating that bilingual and bicultural people are more flexible and creative in their thinking, Crisp assures us diversity is good for our brains. Yet we don’t always do what’s good for us. He argues that the way to turn off the threat-system and engage the coalition-brain system is through prospection, the ability to imagine scenarios different to how they currently are. Stemming from this, his own research has shown that imagined positive contact can improve attitudes, increase the intention to engage with outgroup members, increase confidence in intercultural communication ability and reduce non-verbal markers of anxiety. The more elaborate and vivid the imagined contact, the stronger the effect.
Full review http://shinynewbooks.co.uk/non-fictio...

[Abhinav · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Crisp's "The Social Brain" should be designated as textbook material for every organisation serious about Diversity & Inclusion initiatives. A (rather short) book that discusses the evolutionary perspective to D&I, it breaks down a lot of psychological concepts & simplifies them for the common reader.

Also, it does cover a lot of behavioural experiments, drawing conclusions to provide feasible plans of action for organisations to overcome D&I issues.

Makes for essential reading for those who dabble in matters of the mind - psychology, sociology & HR.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kate McGhee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very useful book, especially right now when it feels like defenders of multiculturalism are on the back foot. The author, a well-respected psychologist, provides clearly-written narrative on why the human race finds diversity difficult and challenging, but provides convincing scientific and anthropological evidence on how human progress did not and cannot happen without diversity. It's a short book, each chapter concludes with summary notes.

In manipulative hands, this could be an emotive subject. However, this book achieves a balance, credibility and yet remains readable. While it's obvious to me that there's a fundamental problem with closed minds and intolerance, it's useful to have credible scientific examples showing why diversity should be embraced, the benefits thereof and strategies for coping with the inevitable tensions and challenges of multiculturalism.

Highly recommended.

[JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Superb book, a need one to address immigrants problem, how multicultural was more beneficial to the society. Started with more negative like biting a Bullet and well analysed the benefits of multi cultural.
Great write and enjoyed