Alison Wood Brooks

In all different vectors. In all different directions.

In all different vectors. In all different directions.

I think to some people, it's not obvious how much more difficult groups are than dyads, than one-on-one, because it feels like you're doing the same task. You're talking, you're listening, you're with other people. It's clear that it's harder to coordinate, but I don't think we've realized how much harder, even here. This whole time, I'm toggling my eye gaze between both of you.

I think to some people, it's not obvious how much more difficult groups are than dyads, than one-on-one, because it feels like you're doing the same task. You're talking, you're listening, you're with other people. It's clear that it's harder to coordinate, but I don't think we've realized how much harder, even here. This whole time, I'm toggling my eye gaze between both of you.

I think to some people, it's not obvious how much more difficult groups are than dyads, than one-on-one, because it feels like you're doing the same task. You're talking, you're listening, you're with other people. It's clear that it's harder to coordinate, but I don't think we've realized how much harder, even here. This whole time, I'm toggling my eye gaze between both of you.

Monica's so patient. She's such a good listener. And we're all doing this calculus that's quite a bit different than if it were just me and Monica or just me and Dax together. As soon as a third person pulls up a chair, everything changes. Someone can sit there, be part of the conversation and never talk. That's different than one-on-one where you have to go back and forth.

Monica's so patient. She's such a good listener. And we're all doing this calculus that's quite a bit different than if it were just me and Monica or just me and Dax together. As soon as a third person pulls up a chair, everything changes. Someone can sit there, be part of the conversation and never talk. That's different than one-on-one where you have to go back and forth.

Monica's so patient. She's such a good listener. And we're all doing this calculus that's quite a bit different than if it were just me and Monica or just me and Dax together. As soon as a third person pulls up a chair, everything changes. Someone can sit there, be part of the conversation and never talk. That's different than one-on-one where you have to go back and forth.

And so I think people don't realize that as group size grows, the coordination challenges of all conversations grow exponentially. Every person in the group has a unique shared reality, a unique relationship. What's boring to Dax might be really exciting to me and Monica. So all of those little micro decisions get even more fraught.

And so I think people don't realize that as group size grows, the coordination challenges of all conversations grow exponentially. Every person in the group has a unique shared reality, a unique relationship. What's boring to Dax might be really exciting to me and Monica. So all of those little micro decisions get even more fraught.

And so I think people don't realize that as group size grows, the coordination challenges of all conversations grow exponentially. Every person in the group has a unique shared reality, a unique relationship. What's boring to Dax might be really exciting to me and Monica. So all of those little micro decisions get even more fraught.

And one of the things that we have to navigate is status differences. As people get thrown into the mix, every group has an inherent status hierarchy. So the status hierarchy is determined by all kinds of things. Sometimes it's a formal hierarchy, like at an organization, there's a boss or on an army battalion, there's a leader.

And one of the things that we have to navigate is status differences. As people get thrown into the mix, every group has an inherent status hierarchy. So the status hierarchy is determined by all kinds of things. Sometimes it's a formal hierarchy, like at an organization, there's a boss or on an army battalion, there's a leader.

And one of the things that we have to navigate is status differences. As people get thrown into the mix, every group has an inherent status hierarchy. So the status hierarchy is determined by all kinds of things. Sometimes it's a formal hierarchy, like at an organization, there's a boss or on an army battalion, there's a leader.

Sometimes it's age, sometimes it's level of wealth, sometimes it's expertise, but it's other things, gender, it's race. It's all of these things that our minds are doing this calculation of who has the most power here, who has the most liking and respect, who's the most influential. And we do this internal sort of ranking in a group. And it affects all the ways that people behave.

Sometimes it's age, sometimes it's level of wealth, sometimes it's expertise, but it's other things, gender, it's race. It's all of these things that our minds are doing this calculation of who has the most power here, who has the most liking and respect, who's the most influential. And we do this internal sort of ranking in a group. And it affects all the ways that people behave.

Sometimes it's age, sometimes it's level of wealth, sometimes it's expertise, but it's other things, gender, it's race. It's all of these things that our minds are doing this calculation of who has the most power here, who has the most liking and respect, who's the most influential. And we do this internal sort of ranking in a group. And it affects all the ways that people behave.

We tend to look at people who have high status when they're speaking. They speak more. So you look at them. But also when they're not speaking, we look to see their emotional reactions because they determine the norms. Like, are they surprised by this? Are they pissed about this? Should I be pissed about this? Which makes lower status group members feel invisible.

We tend to look at people who have high status when they're speaking. They speak more. So you look at them. But also when they're not speaking, we look to see their emotional reactions because they determine the norms. Like, are they surprised by this? Are they pissed about this? Should I be pissed about this? Which makes lower status group members feel invisible.

We tend to look at people who have high status when they're speaking. They speak more. So you look at them. But also when they're not speaking, we look to see their emotional reactions because they determine the norms. Like, are they surprised by this? Are they pissed about this? Should I be pissed about this? Which makes lower status group members feel invisible.