Book & podcast collection

Change the Wallpaper: Transforming Cultural Patterns to Build More Just Communities

Social psychologist Nilanjana Dasgupta examines culture as the “wallpaper” surrounding everyday life: patterns so familiar that people often stop noticing how they shape belonging, opportunity, and behavior. Drawing on research about stereotypes, identity, institutions, and social networks, she shows why changing individual attitudes alone rarely produces durable justice. The book explains how cues embedded in classrooms, workplaces, leadership, and community routines can either reinforce inequality or help people thrive. Dasgupta offers an evidence-based approach to transforming environments so that inclusion becomes part of ordinary practice rather than an occasional initiative.

Publisher: Yale University Press
Publication date: 2025
Format: Print edition
Pages: 280
ISBN: 9780300270228

Subjects

Social Psychology Social Justice Organizational Culture

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Interview with the Author

4 available interview links

1. Town Hall Seattle Civics Series — 395. Nilanjana Dasgupta with Paula Boggs: How Small Changes Can Make a Big ImpactChecked

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2. The Leadership Habit — Transforming Culture with Science with Nilanjana Dasgupta Checked

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3. Thought Echoes Podcast — How to Drive Culture Change | Dr. Nilanjana DasguptaChecked

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4. Friends Like Us — Changing the Wallpaper: A Conversation with Nilanjana DasguptaChecked

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