Introduction

This chapter proposes that earlier work in many fields has established the crucial importance of the social bond in human behavior. This conception gives rise to an approach to conflict that focuses on the relationships between individuals and between groups. A key aspect of the bond between persons and between groups is the emotions of pride and shame. Social structure and emotion are hidden largely in the smallest parts of an exchange, the words, gestures, and details of the interpersonal and historical context. Unacknowledged threats to the bond and shame go hand in hand; they set the stage for cycles of insult, humiliation, and revenge. Destructive wars require not only isolation between nations but also engulfment within: blind loyalty that overrides reason and dissent. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.