Aug 3, 2024

Aakanksha Sharma

Understanding others

Human behaviour is one of the most complicated, but important parts of human psychology. Be it the analysis of influence, to the effects of persuasion, it has a wide range of topics. So, if you would like to read more, here are 10 books that can be of help.

​‘The Laws of Human Nature’ by Robert Greene

‘The Laws of Human Nature’ explains why people act the way they do. Greene describes different patterns of human behaviour, for example, why people become irrational at times, or what fuels their self-centred behaviour, and the likes.

​‘Drive’ by Daniel H. Pink

While it is a common thought that people work for money, rewards, and things that are material, Pink says otherwise. In his book, he says that people are more motivated by internal factors like having control over their work, getting better at something, and having a purpose.

​‘Emotional Intelligence’ by Daniel Goleman

Emotional intelligence is a topic less touched upon as IQ always towers over! But, in his book, Goleman explains that being smart about emotions is just as important as being intellectually smart.

​‘Social Engineering’ by Christopher Hadnagy

This book is like a deep dive into how people can be influenced or manipulated. From scamming people, to cheating, it talks about how some people can negatively influence others into doing things they would not if in their power.

‘The Lucifer Effect’ by Philip Zimbardo

In his book, Philip Zimbardo talks about how normal, ordinary people can commit acts, opposite to their usual behaviour, under certain conditions. He uses the famous Stanford prison experiment example to elaborate upon human behaviour.

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​‘The Art of Thinking Clearly’ by Rolf Dobelli

Our behaviour often influences how we think, and vice versa. In his book, Dobelli talks about common thinking errors, like biases and irrational thoughts, that affect our decision making.

​‘Man’s Search for Meaning’ by Viktor E. Frankl

This book is practically the diary entry of a Holocaust survivor and discusses how finding meaning in life, even in suffering, is important for well-being. He talks about how thought processes influenced people’s behaviour and will during the tough times.

​‘Influence’ by Robert B. Cialdini

‘Influence’ by Robert Cialdini explains six key principles of persuasion that people use to influence others and get them on their side. This not just helps people become more persuasive in life, but also helps identify the kind of behaviour to stay away from.

‘The Social Animal’ by Elliot Aronson

One of the greatest philosophers in the history of mankind was Aristotle. And he was the one to remark ‘Man is a social animal’. This book by Aronson covers a range of topics in social psychology, from how we form relationships to why we conform to certain social norms.

‘Games People Play’ by Eric Berne

In ‘Games People Play’, Berne introduces the idea of social ‘games’, basically different behaviours people use socially, in interactions, and how these affect relationships.

Thanks For Reading!

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