Presenting in Sydney, Adelaide and Melbourne

Opening Keynote: Unsiloing the Self: Understanding the Relationship between Connection and Autonomy

The two most fundamental human motives are the need for connection and the need for autonomy. The strength of these motives fluctuates across our lifespan, with connection being predominant in early childhood and autonomy gaining importance as children enter adolescence. Unfortunately, these motives are in permanent tension with one another; as adolescents start seeking autonomy, they are forced to make sacrifices in their connections. The conflict between these needs is as old as our species, but many aspects of our modern world have shifted the resolution of this conflict toward autonomy and away from connection, with important costs for our happiness. For example, the data suggest that although social media enhances connections in some ways, it simultaneously undermines important aspects of connection, particularly during adolescence and early adulthood. In this talk I explore why we need connection and autonomy, how education impacts the delicate balance between the two, and how social media is both a help and a hindrance. I also reflect briefly on other factors that impact the tension between autonomy and connection, such as gender, urban living, and wealth.

Professor Bill von Hippel

Bill von Hippel was a professor in the United States and Australia for over thirty years and now conducts research for private companies. Bill has published over 150 academic articles and chapters across a range of psychological topics. His work has been widely reported in the media, including the The New York Times ‘100 Ideas of the Year’, The Economist, USA Today, Le Monde, Il Mundo, Der Spiegel, and The Australian. Bill’s first book, The Social Leap, has been translated into a dozen different languages and received the annual Book Prize from the world’s foremost social psychology society. His second book will be coming out in 2024 and is about the tension between our two most basic needs – for autonomy and connection.