Click

August 2, 2010
There is that special moment when two people click, rather than simply meet. The Brafman brothers (Sway) draw on a variety of sources to find the facts behind instant connections. Some are common sense: “When we get cues that we’re liked, we’re automatically drawn to like the other person in return.” Ingredients involved in clicking are categorized into “click accelerators” such as vulnerability, proximity, and similarity. The brothers examine situations such as job interviews, romantic encounters, and even hostage negotiations to reveal how physical proximity enhances the chances of relationship forming. People described as “high self-monitors” (think The Office’s Andy Bernard) pick up on social cues and organically adjust their actions to manipulate the ways in which they’re perceived. One interviewee who thrives on the social connections that come from traveling, says “even if it was once and you clicked with them, you have all these people sprinkled across the world. It ends up leading to a lot of wonderful opportunities that enrich your life.” Psychology and sociology click into place for an engaging, eye-opening read.