Evolution of Human Cooperation and Community Development

August John Hoffman is professor of psychology at Metropolitan State University.Michelle Filkins is professor and reference and instruction librarian at Metropolitan State University.Saul Alamilla is associate professor in the Department of Psychological Science at Kennesaw State University.

• Chapter 1: The Changing Faces of Diversity within Communities: Why Ethnic Hate Crimes, Extremism, and Violence are Increasing among Global PopulationsChapter 2: The Evolution of Violence, Bullying, Compassion and Forgiveness: Planting the Seeds of a More Peaceful and Tolerant SocietyChapter 3: Immigration, Sustainable Green Spaces and The Social Contract: Developing a Strength-Based Model to Reduce ConflictChapter 4: Teaching Tolerance and the Roles of Community Development in Reducing Intergroup ConflictChapter 5: The Interpersonal Benefits of “Green” Environments and Providing Pathways to Greater Connectedness and Social Capital to the CommunityChapter 6: The Polarized Community, Antisocial Behaviors, and The “Lone Wolf” Syndrome: Identifying Potential Catastrophe via Proactive Community InterventionChapter 7: The Role of Libraries as Essential Community ResourcesChapter 8: Multiculturalism: The Role of Culture, Acculturation, and Contextual Factors in Intergroup Relations in Diverse Societies

This book champions the positive outcomes that communal "green zone" environments can have in communities, examining how they can help build connectedness and reduce social conflicts. Authors Hoffman, Filkins, and Alamilla explain the dire social and physical consequences of living in a dysfunctional society, highlighting phenomena that continue to affect communities (e.g., violence, bullying, lone-wolf syndrome, authoritarian rulers), and they explore why minorities too often bear the brunt of these consequences. Examples of some successful green zone communities are provided. The work of thinkers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Stanley Milgram are brought to bear, and the authors periodically clarify their own concepts through diagrams. They also provide numerous citations to empirical research supporting their points. There is one chapter on the significant role that public libraries play in their communities (through, e.g., literacy, shelter, and outreach programs). The final chapter, an extended discussion by Alamilla, tackles the conundrum of multiculturalism. This book should be useful to undergraduates enrolled in community or social psychology courses and to those wanting to learn how to work on a small practical solution to decrease the turmoil. Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates. General readers.