The Power of Us
by Catherine Tinsley
Mentioned once across 1 show · first heard Mar 2026 on Hidden Brain.
The general take
Shankar Vedantam describes The Power of Us as an exploration of how group identities both unite and divide people, with the authors examining how group identity science could be applied to create positive change. The take is straightforward and informational, presenting the book as a serious look at the psychological mechanisms behind group behavior.
About
**As featured on The Oprah Podcast, NPR's Hidden Brain, and in The New York Times** A “fascinating” (Charles Duhigg) and “must-read” (Annie Duke) book about WHAT we believe and HOW we experience the world is shaped by WHO we're around – and how to use that insight to rebuild the trust our institutions, workplaces, and communities depend on. Why has it become so hard to disagree without contempt? Why do smart, well-intentioned people slide into hostility toward neighbors, colleagues, and strangers online―often without realizing it? In The Power of Us , psychologists Jay Van Bavel and Dominic Packer offer a surprising answer: the same psychology that lets us love our families, rally behind causes, and build great teams is the psychology that turns disagreement into contempt. Group identity is the engine of human cooperation―and, left unexamined, the engine of incivility.
Who said what
Shankar Vedantam💬 Mentioned
…discussing how group identities shape behavior and social dynamics
“In their new book, The Power of Us, the psychologists Jay Van Bevel and Dominic Packer explore how group identities pull us together and how they tear us apart. They also look at how we can apply what we have learned about the science of group identity to build a better world.”
Hidden Brain — Group Thinkat 22:26
Listener reviews
Bought The Power of Us after hearing about it? Tell everyone how it went.
