A celebrated social psychologist offers a radical new perspective on cultural differences that reveals why some countries, cultures, and individuals take rules more seriously and how following the rules influences the way we think and act. In Rule Makers, Rule Breakers , Michele Gelfand, “an engaging writer with intellectual range” ( The New York Times Book Review ), takes us on an epic journey through human cultures, offering a startling new view of the world and ourselves. With a mix of brilliantly conceived studies and surprising on-the-ground discoveries, she shows that much of the diversity in the way we think and act derives from a key difference—how tightly or loosely we adhere to social norms. Just as DNA affects everything from eye color to height, our tight-loose social coding influences much of what we do. Why are clocks in Germany so accurate while those in Brazil are frequently wrong? Why do New Zealand’s women have the highest number of sexual partners? Why are red and blue states really so divided? Why was the Daimler-Chrysler merger ill-fated from the start? Why is the driver of a Jaguar more likely to run a red light than the driver of a plumber’s van? Why does one spouse prize running a tight ship while the other refuses to sweat the small stuff? In search of a common answer, Gelfand spent two decades conducting research in more than fifty countries. Across all age groups, family variations, social classes, businesses, states, and nationalities, she has identified a primal pattern that can trigger cooperation or conflict. Her fascinating conclusion: behavior is highly influenced by the perception of threat. “A useful and engaging take on human behavior” ( Kirkus Reviews ) with an approach that is consistently riveting, Rule Makers, Ruler Breakers thrusts many of the puzzling attitudes and actions we observe into sudden and surprising clarity. “An engaging writer with intellectual range. She sparkles most when diving into evolutionary anthropology to make sense of long-term patterns…This is interesting stuff.” — New York Times Book Review “Brightly written . . . Gelfand offers many intriguing observations . . . A useful and engaging take on human behavior.” —Kirkus Reviews "A fascinating book that offers a fresh way of making sense of cultural differences." — CNBC “A brilliant and timely book . . . Michele Gelfand has exposed a universal fault line running beneath nations, states, organizations, and even families. Cultures that face threat and uncertainty seek order and precision. Cultures with firmer footings revel in ambiguity and risk taking. This idea, at once so simple and so powerful, will forever change how you see the world.” —Daniel H. Pink, bestselling author of When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing and Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us “A delightful, insightful, and fascinating look at the remarkable diversity of human customs—where they come from and how they shape our lives.” —Daniel Gilbert, bestselling author of Stumbling on Happiness “Completely fascinating . . . [Gelfand] reveals how political divides, happiness and suicide rates, and the coexistence of crime and creativity can all be traced to a fundamental but neglected dimension of social norms. You’ll never look at a workplace, a country, or a family the same way again.” —Adam Grant, bestselling author of Originals, Give and Take, and Option B with Sheryl Sandberg “Offers a powerful new way of seeing the world. Gelfand's deceptively simple thesis becomes increasingly compelling as her research unfolds across politics, class, and organizational behavior. Best of all, she provides a new toolkit for change." —Anne Marie Slaughter, President and CEO of New America, former director of Policy Planning for the State Department, and author of Unfinished Business: Women Men Work Family “A groundbreaking analysis . . . Anyone interested in our cultural divides will find tremendous insight in Rule Makers, Rule Breakers.” —Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University, and author of Enlightenment Now "Remarkable. Not just an enlightening book but a game-changing one. By uncovering the inner workings of tight and loose cultures, Rule Makers, Rule Breakers suddenly makes sense of the puzzling behavior we see all around us—in colleagues, family, and even ourselves." —Carol Dweck, bestselling author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success "Brilliant . . . full of well-documented insights that will change the way you look at yourself and at the world around you.” — Barry Schwartz, bestselling author of The Paradox of Choice , Practical Wisdom , and Why We Work “Gelfand has done much to unravel the mysteries of human motivation." —Robert Cialdini, bestselling author of Influence and Pre-Suasion “Everyone should read this book! . . . It is rare that one overarching principle can explain so much, but Mich