Social Intelligence

amygdala acts as a radar for the brain, calling attention to whatever might be new, puzzling, or important to learn more about.

instinctively become more attentive to the faces of the people around us, searching for smiles or frowns that give us a better sense of how to interpret signs of danger or that might signal someone’s intentions.2

as we confront someone’s anger, our brain automatically scans to see if it signals some further danger.

emotions are contagious

When someone dumps their toxic feelings on us—explodes in anger or threats, shows disgust or contempt—they activate in us circuitry for those very same distressing emotions.

The more strongly connected we are with someone emotionally, the greater the mutual force.