BOOK CLUB: The Laws of Connection: The Scientific Secrets of Building a Strong Social Network by David Robson
Discussion Led by Melody Bacon, PhD
Tuesday, February 18, 2025
9-10am PT / 11am-12pm CT / 12-1pm ET
Discussion Guide, Quiz, and Evaluation will unlock two months before the scheduled live discussion date.
Social connection is as essential for our health and happiness as a balanced diet and regular exercise. It reduces our risk of stroke, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s. It enhances our creativity and adds years to our life span. Yet many of us struggle to form strong and meaningful bonds—and the problem lies not with our personalities but with a series of cognitive biases that stop us from fulfilling our social potential.
In The Laws of Connection, award-winning science writer David Robson describes the psychological barriers that lead us to keep others at a distance and offers evidence-based strategies to overcome them.
Drawing on philosophy, neuroscience, and cutting-edge psychology, Robson introduces readers to new concepts such as the liking gap, the novelty penalty, the fast-friendship procedure, the beautiful mess effect, and the Japanese art of amae. Whether we are shy or confident, introvert or extrovert, we can all build deeper relationships. The Laws of Connection shows us how.
Homestudy requires completion of quiz and evaluation.
Optional live discussion will be held online via Zoom. Link to access will be provided to participants individually.
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This Homestudy, when completed in its entirety, offers 5.0 CEs for Psychologists, 5.0 IL CEUS for Counselors and Social Workers, 5.0 BBS California CEUs for LPCCs, LPSWs, and LMFTs, 5.0 NASP CPDs for School Psychologists, or 5.0 ISBE CPDs for Illinois Educators.
This optional Live Discussion, when attended in its entirety, offers 1.0 CEs for Psychologists, 1.0 IL CEUS for Counselors and Social Workers, 1.0 BBS California CEUs for LPCCs, LPSWs, and LMFTs, 1.0 NASP CPDs for School Psychologists, or 1.0 ISBE CPDs for Illinois Educators.
Social connection is as essential for our health and happiness as a balanced diet and regular exercise. It reduces our risk of stroke, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s. It enhances our creativity and adds years to our life span. Yet many of us struggle to form strong and meaningful bonds—and the problem lies not with our personalities but with a series of cognitive biases that stop us from fulfilling our social potential.
In The Laws of Connection, award-winning science writer David Robson describes the psychological barriers that lead us to keep others at a distance and offers evidence-based strategies to overcome them.
Drawing on philosophy, neuroscience, and cutting-edge psychology, Robson introduces readers to new concepts such as the liking gap, the novelty penalty, the fast-friendship procedure, the beautiful mess effect, and the Japanese art of amae. Whether we are shy or confident, introvert or extrovert, we can all build deeper relationships. The Laws of Connection shows us how.
After attending this introductory-level program, participants will be able to:
- Describe Robson’s 13 Laws of Connection.
- Utilize the “Generalized Shared Reality” Scale (SR-G) and the “Inclusion-of-Other-in-Self” Scale.
- Define the liking gap.
- Outline egocentric thinking in relation to the illusion of transparency.
- Implement Arthur Aron’s 36 “fast friends” questions.
- Describe the “find-remind-bind” theory.
- Describe the “beautiful mess effect.”
- Define confelicity.
- Define the Japanese concept of “amae” (or the “Benjamin Franklin effect”) in strengthening relationships.
- Outline the four key principles of shared reality in disagreement.
This program meets APA’s continuing education STANDARD 1.3: Program content focuses on topics related to psychological practice, education, or research other than application of psychological assessment and/or intervention methods that are supported by contemporary scholarship grounded in established research procedures.
This program meets APA’s continuing education GOAL 3: Program will allow psychologists to maintain, develop, and increase competencies in order to improve services to the public and enhance contributions to the profession.
Cost of program does not include purchase of the book.
General Admission (Homestudy only): $60
General Admission (w/ live discussion): $70
The Chicago School Staff/Faculty/Alumni (Homestudy only): $50
The Chicago School Staff/Faculty/Alumni (w/ live discussion): $60
Students (Homestudy only): $30
Students (w/ live discussion): $40
Live Discussion is limited to 20 participants.
(*Please email [email protected] for coupon code)
Refund Policy: 100% of tuition is refundable up to 48 hours before the program. Within 48 hours of the program, and at any point in Homestudy format, tuition is nonrefundable.
Melody Bacon, PhD
Dr. Melody Bacon is a professor in the Marriage and Family Therapy department at The Chicago School. She has been an instructor and administrator for over 18 years and has been with the Chicago School of Professional Psychology for over 10 years. She has a passion for teaching and mentoring new mental health professionals. In addition to her work with TCSPP, Dr. Bacon is a clinical psychologist specializing in relational issues and has been in practice for over 20 years. Her clinical orientation centers on the work of Dr. Carl Jung and is informed by Bowen Family Systems.
Her dissertation, I thought love would last forever, examined the transformational potential of grief and divorce and initiated an interest that continues to this day. She is the author of The Grace Filled Divorce (2012). Most recently, she has developed a program for families struggling with addiction that is offered in an online format. She is the author of Family Therapy and Addiction: The Family Matters Program (2019).
Robson, D. (2024). The laws of connection: The Scientific Secrets of Building a Strong Social Network. Pegasus Books.
See book for additional references.
Target Audience: Mental Health Professionals, Organizational Leaders, and Students
Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 5.0 (homestudy) and 1.0 (live discussion) continuing education credits. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this program and its content. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in its continuing education activities. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is also committed to conducting all activities in conformity with the American Psychological Association’s Ethical Principles for Psychologists. Participants are asked to be aware of the need for privacy and confidentiality throughout the program. If program content becomes stressful, participants are encouraged to process these feelings during discussion periods.
Counselors/Clinical Counselors. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 5.0 (homestudy) and 1.0 (live discussion) hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for counselors and clinical counselors. License Number: 197.000159
Social Workers. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 5.0 (homestudy) and 1.0 (live discussion) hours of continuing education. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to provide continuing education programming for social workers. License Number: 159.001036
MFTs, LPCCs, and LCSWs. Course meets the qualifications for 5.0 (homestudy) and 1.0 (live discussion) hours of continuing education credit for MFTs, LPCCs, and/or LCSWs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. If you are licensed outside of California please check with your local licensing agency to to determine if they will accept these CEUs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is approved by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) to offer continuing education programming for MFTs, LPCCs, LEPs, and/or LCSWs. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is an accredited or approved postsecondary institution that meets the requirements set forth in Sections 4980.54(f)(1), 4989.34, 4996.22(d)(1), or 4999.76(d) of the Code.
Illinois Educators. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 5.0 (homestudy) and 1.0 (live discussion) hours of continuing professional development units. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is an approved provider for continuing professional development by the Illinois State Board of Education.
School Psychologists. This program, when attended in its entirety, is available for 5.0 (homestudy) and 1.0 (live discussion) hours of continuing professional development. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology’s School Psychology Program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists to offer continuing professional development. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology maintains responsibility for this continuing professional development activity.
Non-Psychologists. Most licensing boards accept Continuing Education Credits sponsored by the American Psychological Association but non-psychologists are recommended to consult with their specific state-licensing board to ensure that APA-sponsored CE is acceptable.
*Participants must attend 100% of the program in order to obtain a Certificate of Attendance.
If participants have special needs, we will attempt to accommodate them. Please address questions, concerns and any complaints to [email protected]. There is no commercial support for this program nor are there any relationships between the CE Sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could reasonably be construed as conflicts of interest.
The Office of Continuing Education at The Chicago School is not affiliated with the author, publisher, or any book sellers, and receives no financial support from the sales of the book.