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Why We Act

Turning Bystanders into Moral Rebels

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Why We Act

By: Catherine A. Sanderson
Narrated by: Catherine A. Sanderson
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About this listen

In the face of wrongdoing, why do good people so often do nothing? Pioneering psychologist Catherine A. Sanderson explains why moral courage is so rare – and how we can all learn to be brave.

We are bombarded every day by reports of bad behaviour: from sexual harassment to political corruption, from bullying to corporate greed. We believe these things are wrong or even evil, but in practice few of us choose to intercede.

Why We Act draws on the latest developments in psychology and neuroscience to explain why we act differently in groups than when we are alone; how slippery slopes begin and prosper; and where the dissonance lies between good intentions and real action.

Sanderson answers the question of why otherwise good people can become bystanders to evil of any scale, and gives practical strategies for how to resist pressures and make change in our own lives.

Courage, this book shows, is not a virtue we’re born with or without. A bystander can learn to be brave.

©2020 Catherine A. Sanderson (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers Limited Adolescent Psychology Developmental Psychology Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Psychology & Interactions Morality

Critic reviews

"Thoughtful and beautifully written.... A smart and practical guide to becoming a better and braver version of ourselves." (Daniel Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness)

"Catherine Sanderson, like no other psychologist, invades our minds. Her riveting storytelling challenges us to rethink why we avert our eyes to evil, tolerate bullying, and excuse unforgivable workplace behaviour." (Walter V. Robinson, former editor of the Pulitzer-winning Boston Globe team)

"Brilliant.... The unrelenting rigor of her analysis, sweeping breadth of research and evocative lucidity empower us to act - and also give us hope. This book comes not a moral moment too soon." (Cornell William Brooks, former President of the NAACP)
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