The Science of Human Connection
At the beginning of the 21st century, we are beset by a crisis of connection. People are increasingly disconnected from themselves, each other, and the world around them, with alienation, isolation, and fragmentation now common across and within communities. The quintessential “we,” as in “we, the people,” that once served as our collective ambition continues to dissolve. In its place, we have been left with the “me,” the solitary individual, whose needs, wants, and desires take precedent over the collective.
Research has suggested that as humans we are inherently responsive and relational beings, born with a voice, with the ability to communicate and engage with others, and with the desire to live in relationships. We are not simply the rugged, aggressive, and competitive individuals that we are often made out to be. Our tendency toward altruism and cooperation is now recognized as a key factor responsible for the survival as a species. We are, by nature, empathic, caring, cooperative, and interdependent.
Edited by Niobe Way, Alisha Ali, Carol Gilligan, and Pedro Noguera