{
  "id": 2386621,
  "title": "The 2 behaviors that make you socially magnetic",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/the-2-behaviors-that-make-you-socially-magnetic",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-21T14:20:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Big Think",
    "slug": "big-think",
    "url": "https://bigthink.com/mind-behavior/the-2-behaviors-that-make-you-socially-magnetic/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a scenario at a coworking space in London, three distinct social behaviors emerged. The first individual monopolized attention by constantly talking about himself and his stories. This approach, while engaging at first, eventually became tiring and unbalanced as the attention did not return to other group members. The second individual, on the other hand, was warm and pleasant but only responsive when spoken to. This polite nature, although considerate, lacked genuine warmth and made people unconsciously lean away from them. Finally, the third individual stood out as the magnetic leader of the group. This person knew when to step forward and when to step back, asking questions, handing the floor to different people, and maintaining genuine warmth throughout the interaction. Research shows that charisma can be deliberately practiced and improved, meaning social magnetism is not a fixed trait but a specific set of behaviors that can be developed. The key to being socially magnetic lies in the balance of communal (warm, friendly) and agentic (confident, assertive) behavior. While warmth is the most crucial factor in earning points of likability, a mix of both dimensions is what makes someone truly magnetic.",
  "summary": "A few months ago, I was queuing for free tacos at my coworking space in London. And because nothing unites people like free food, half the building had shown up. This gave me the opportunity to shamelessly eavesdrop on the group of guys in front of me. Three of them stood out. The first talked about himself a lot, jumping in on other people’s stories to tell his own slightly better version of…",
  "key_points": [
    "The magnetic individual balances communal warmth with agentic confidence",
    "Warmth is the most crucial factor in likability, but both dimensions together make someone magnetic",
    "Charisma can be deliberately practiced and improved for social magnetism"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}