Blog

Don Goodman: A Cognitive Theory of Community

Leveraging a little basic neuroscience to build stronger, healthier communities

Don Goodman, Head of Marketing at Formance, will be presenting at DevOpsDays Amsterdam, taking place 18–20 June 2025. In his talk, Don argues that leveraging a little basic neuroscience can help us build stronger, healthier communities.

June 10, 2025

What if the key to building stronger communities lies in understanding our own brains? At DevOpsDays Amsterdam this June join our own Head of Marketing, Don Goodman, as he explores how we can leverage a little neuroscience to transform the way we build and nurture technical communities.

In this stimulating presentation, Don examines the role of oxytocin—the neurotransmitter responsible for love—in creating lasting social connections. But oxytocin also has a dark side, as it also underlies a lot of toxic group dynamics. By understanding these neurological mechanisms, you can create more inclusive, resilient communities while learning how to navigate the sometimes toxic downsides of social bonding.

Don Goodman — A cognitive theory of community

Join us at DevOpsDays Amsterdam (June 18-20, 2025) to discover how neuroscience can revolutionize community building.