Hivemind: The New Science of Tribalism in Our Divided World

At the crossroads between The Shallows and Presence, Hivemind is a provocative look at how communities can sync up around shared ideas, and how this hive mentality is contributing to today's polarized times.

Hivemind: A collective consciousness in which we share consensus thoughts, emotions, and opinions; a phenomenon whereby a group of people function as if with a single mind.

Our views of the world are shaped by the stories told by our self-selected communities. Whether seeking out groups that share our tastes, our faith, our heritage, or other interests, since the dawn of time we have taken comfort in defining ourselves through our social groups. But what happens when we only socialize with our chosen group, to the point that we lose the ability to connect to people who don't share our passions? What happens when our tribes merely confirm our world view, rather than expand it?

We have always been a remarkably social species-our moods, ideas, and even our perceptions of reality synchronize without our conscious awareness. The advent of social media and smartphones has amplified these tendencies in ways that spell both promise and peril. Our hiveish natures benefit us in countless ways-combatting the mental and physical costs of loneliness, connecting us with collaborators and supporters, and exposing us to entertainment and information beyond what we can find in our literal backyards. But of course, there are also looming risks-echo chambers, political polarization, and conspiracy theories that have already begun to have deadly consequences.

Leading a narrative journey from the site of the Charlottesville riots to the boardrooms of Facebook, considering such diverse topics as zombies, neuroscience, and honeybees, psychologist and emotion regulation specialist Sarah Rose Cavanagh leaves no stone unturned in her quest to understand how social technology is reshaping the way we socialize. It's not possible to turn back the clocks, and Cavanagh argues that there's no need to; instead, she presents a fully examined and thoughtful call to cut through our online tribalism, dial back our moral panic about screens and mental health, and shore up our sense of community.

With compelling storytelling and shocking research, Hivemind is a must-read for anyone hoping to make sense of the dissonance around us.

Author: Sarah Rose Cavanagh
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Published: 09/03/2019
Pages: 304
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.10lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.10w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9781538713327


Review Citation(s):
Publishers Weekly 05/27/2019
Kirkus Reviews 08/15/2019 pg. 124

About the Author
Sarah Rose Cavanagh, PhD, is a psychologist, professor, and Associate Director of the D'Amour Center for Teaching Excellence at Assumption College. Her research focuses on the connections between emotions and quality of life, particularly how our emotion regulation strategies influence our well-being. Dr. Cavanagh is the author of The Spark of Learning: Energizing the College Classroom with the Science of Emotion, and she has contributed to publications like The Chronicle of Higher Education and WholeLiving magazine. She lives with her family and friends in Massachusetts, where she can be close to both pumpkin patches and the sea.