David Robson: The Laws of Connection

Sunday Papers Live - Lifestyle Section

Why social connection matters even more than we thought and how building better relationships can improve our lives.

Social connection is as essential for our health and happiness as a balanced diet and regular exercise. Scientific research has proven that when people feel they have stronger social support, they have better mental focus, memory and problem solving abilities. Social connection can even reduce our risk of stroke, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s. Greater connection can also fuel creativity, and enhances our work productivity and add years to our life span.

And yet, many of us struggle to form strong and meaningful bonds. But the problem lies not with our personalities, but with a series of cognitive biases that stop us from fulfilling our social potential. Drawing on neuroscience and cutting-edge philosophy, David's talk will outline the psychological barriers that lead us to keep others at a distance, and offer evidence-based rules to overcome them.

David Robson is an award-winning science journalist. His first book, The Intelligence Trap, has been translated into 15 languages. His second, The Expectation Effect, won the British Psychological Society Award, was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week, and was a best book of the year for the Sunday Times, Financial Times and Waterstones. Previously an editor and senior journalist at BBC Future, Robson is now a freelance journalist; his writing has appeared in The Times, Telegraph, Guardian, Atlantic, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, Men’s Health and more.