THE LAWS OF CONNECTION

In the early 1960s scientists at the University of California Berkeley set out to establish the key factors affecting health and longevity Their results known as the Alameda 7 you already know don t smoke drink in moderation sleep seven to eight hours a night exercise eat regular meals maintain a moderate weight eat breakfast Years later however the same team discovered an eighth factor one that proved more important than all the others social connection When we form meaningful bonds with others our wounds heal faster we shake off infections more quickly and our blood pressure drops We are less likely to have Alzheimer s heart attacks or strokes When people feel that they have strong social support they perform better on tests of mental focus memory and problem solving Greater connection can fuel creativity increase our financial stability and enhance our work productivity But making friends can also be daunting In The Laws of Connection David Robson does two important things he takes us through the fascinating science behind the effects of social connection and he unpacks the research that shows that we are all better at being social than we might think We meet ideas such as the liking gap and the gratitude gap learn to re