Prosocial: Using Evolutionary Science to Build Productive, Equitable, and Collaborative Groups

by Paul W.B. Atkins PhD, David Sloan Wilson PhD, Steven C. Hayes PhD, Richard M Ryan Phd (Foreword by)

Overview

A groundbreaking, comprehensive program for designing effective and socially equitable groups of all sizes—from businesses and social justice groups to global organizations.

Whether you work in business or schools, volunteer in neighborhoods or church organizations, or are involved in social justice and activism, you understand the enormous power of groups to enact powerful and lasting change in the world. But how exactly do you design, build, and sustain effective groups?

Based on the work of Nobel Prize winning economist Elinor Ostrom and grounded in contextual behavioral science, evolutionary science, and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), Prosocial presents a practical, step-by-step approach to help you energize and strengthen your business or organization. Using the Prosocial model, you’ll learn to design groups that are more harmonious, have better member or employee retention, have better relationships with other groups or business partners, and have more success and longevity.

Most importantly, you’ll learn to target the characteristics that foster cooperation and collaboration—key ingredients for any effective group.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684030248
Publisher:	New Harbinger Publications
Publication date:	10/01/2019
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	548,962
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Paul W.B. Atkins, PhD, is director of the Prosocial Institute, and senior research fellow with the Institute for Positive Psychology and Education at Australian Catholic University (ACU). His career has combined research and practice helping groups to thrive. His research has been published in the world’s leading management and psychology journals. As a facilitator and coach, he has helped thousands of managers and leaders to improve their team leadership, conflict resolution, situational awareness, and well-being.

David Sloan Wilson, PhD, is president of The Evolution Institute, and SUNY distinguished professor of biology and anthropology at Binghamton University. He applies evolutionary theory to all aspects of humanity, in addition to the biological world. His books include Darwin’s Cathedral, Evolution for Everyone, The Neighborhood Project, and Does Altruism Exist?

Steven C. Hayes, PhD, is Nevada Foundation Professor in the behavior analysis program in the department of psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. His career has focused on analysis of the nature of human language and cognition, and its application to the understanding and alleviation of human suffering and promotion of human prosperity. Among other associations, Hayes has been president of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science (ACBS). His work has received several awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from ABCT.

Foreword writer Richard M. Ryan, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and codeveloper of self-determination theory (SDT), an internationally recognized leading theory of human motivation. He is professor at the Institute for Positive Psychology and Education at ACU.

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Introduction 1

Part 1 Concepts and Principles

Chapter 1 Evolution at Multiple Levels and in Multiple Streams 10

Chapter 2 Elinor Ostrom and the Commons 22

Chapter 3 Core Design Principles, Version 2.0 35

Chapter 4 Evolving Behavior: A Contextual Behavioral Approach 49

Part 2 Prosocial Methods

Chapter 5 Mapping Interests and Building Psychological Flexibility with the ACT Matrix 72

Chapter 6 Modules and Pathways for the Prosocial Process 95

Chapter 7 Core Design Principle 1: Shared Identity and Purpose 102

Chapter 8 Core Design Principle 2: Equitable Distribution of Contributions and Benefits 117

Chapter 9 Core Design Principle 3: Fair and Inclusive Decision Making 135

Chapter 10 Core Design Principle 4: Monitoring Agreed Behaviors 151

Chapter 11 Core Design Principle 5: Graduated Responding to Helpful and Unhelpful Behavior 162

Chapter 12 Core Design Principle 6: Fast and Fair Conflict Resolution 176

Chapter 13 Core Design Principle 7: Authority to Self-Govern 189

Chapter 14 Core Design Principle 8: Collaborative Relations with Other Groups 199

Chapter 15 Goal Setting for Action 209

Conclusion: The More Beautiful World That Our Hearts Know Is Possible 218

Endnotes 227

References 237

Index 251

Interviews

Atkins resides in Canberra, Australia;Wilson resides in New York, NY; Hayes resides in Reno, NV.

Editorial Reviews

A powerful, simple, but new perspective; part what to do, mostly how to do it, on the big question. It’s always been make-or-break for our species. Somehow, it’s looming ever larger: ‘How can I be for myself, but also for others and our world?’”
—Nicholas Gruen, PhD, visiting professor at Kings College London Policy Institute, CEO of Lateral Economics, and author of the forthcoming The Public Goods of the 21st Century

Nicholas Gruen

This groundbreaking book shows how evolutionary theory can be used to empower the success of small groups. It is a seamless integration of the processes of psychological flexibility, the science of organizational development and interpersonal trust, and Elinor Ostrom’s Nobel Prize-winning ‘Core Design Principles’ for group cooperation. What results is a method that is both principle-based and highly flexible, and that speaks directly and practically to the role of coaches and consultants. This book is essential reading for anyone who works with people in group settings, and who is committed to helping these groups to be their best.”
—Susan David, PhD, cofounder of the Institute of Coaching—a McLean/Harvard Medical School Affiliate; psychologist at Harvard Medical School; and author of Emotional Agility

Susan David

What do you get when you combine contemporary evolutionary theory, insights from a winner of the Nobel Prize in Economics, and years of psychological research on behavior change? As it turns out, you get a practical and intuitively appealing set of steps for increasing care and cooperation amidst the twenty-first century’s soul-sapping and ecologically damaging selfishness. The approach developed by Atkins, Wilson, and Hayes shows real promise, and I hope many people adopt it.”
—Tim Kasser, PhD, professor in the department of psychologyat Knox College in Galesburg, IL; and coauthor of Hypercapitalism

Tim Kasser

One of the authors, David Sloan Wilson, has said that everyone needs to become ‘wise managers’ of their own cultural evolutionary process. This book is a great way to learn how to do this very thing. If you are looking for ways to achieve shared goals, work effectively in groups, or in any way make the world a better place, you are going to want to read this book. It is a deeply practical and insightful guide for individuals and the organizations they work for.”
 —Joe Brewer, executive director of the Center for Applied Cultural Evolution

Joe Brewer

Evolutionary science has a lot to say about how we can create more effective, cooperative groups. So does the research of Nobel Laureate Elinor Ostrom, the great scholar of the commons. Blending these two rich streams, Atkins, Wilson, and Hayes provide powerful, practical guidance for anyone wishing to nourish prosocial behaviors—in education, business, civic action, athletics, and beyond. A concise, readable synthesis that practitioners and scholars alike will appreciate.”
—David Bollier, coauthor of Free, Fair, and Alive

David Bollier

Prosocial helps feuding individuals figure out their common purpose, and gives warring factions the means to cooperate. Anyone who has ever tried to solve a burning conflict within or between groups should read this book.”
—Susan Pinker, psychologist, behavioral science columnist for The Wall Street Journal, and author of The Sexual Paradox and The Village Effect

Susan Pinker

This book expanded my imagination about what is possible in groups of any form. This expansion came from the careful articulation of multidimensional, multi-evolutionary science and its union with functional behavioral science. The book provides a highly useful and operational approach for building and transforming groups to be more prosocial. This book is chock-full of clear steps on how to engage the prosocial process to increase prosociality in the world. The book is a welcome, practical, and well-documented guide for people interested in lifting up the capability and competence of a group to be more productive, equitable, and collaborative.”
—Jane Dutton, PhD, professor emerita of business administration and psychology, and coauthor of Awakening Compassion at Work

Jane Dutton

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