Death may be inescapable, but we do our best to avoid thinking about it. Psychologist Sheldon Solomon says we’re not very successful though. This week on Hidden Brain, we confront how death anxiety courses through our actions, even when we don’t realize it.
We’re All Gonna Die Read More »
For the last episode in our You 2.0 series, we bring you a favorite conversation with Harvard researcher Dan Gilbert. He explains why we’re bad at predicting our future happiness, how that affects our decision making, and why we’re actually happier after making a decision that feels irrevocable.
You 2.0: Decide Already Read More »
When your phone buzzes or a notification pops up your screen, do you stop what you’re doing to look and respond? That’s what many of us are doing. Even though we think we should be less distracted by technology, we haven’t admitted the true cost of these interruptions. This week, we revisit our 2017 conversation with computer scientist Cal Newport, and consider ways we can all immerse ourselves in more meaningful work.
You 2.0: Deep Work Read More »
Francesca Gino studies rebels — people who practice “positive deviance” and achieve incredible feats of imagination. They know how, and when, to break the rules that should be broken. So how can you activate your own inner non-conformist? This week, we ponder the traits of successful rebels as we revisit our 2018 conversation with Gino.
You 2.0: Rebel With A Cause Read More »
If you live in a big city, you may have noticed new buildings popping up — a high-rise here, a skyscraper there. The concrete jungles that we’ve built over the past century have allowed millions of us to live in close proximity, and modern economies to flourish. But what have we given up by moving away from the forest environments in which humans first evolved? This week, we revisit our 2018 conversation about the healing power of nature with psychologist Ming Kuo.
You 2.0: Our Better Nature Read More »
When you’re hungry, it can be hard to think of anything other than food. When you’re desperately poor, you may constantly worry about making ends meet. When you’re lonely, you might obsess about making friends. This week, as part of our You 2.0 series, we bring you a favorite 2017 episode about the psychological phenomenon of scarcity. Researchers say this form of tunnel vision can affect our ability to see the big picture and cope with problems in our lives.
You 2.0: Tunnel Vision Read More »
Some people are good at putting themselves in another person’s shoes. Others may struggle to relate. But psychologist Jamil Zaki argues that empathy isn’t a fixed trait. This week: how to exercise our empathetic muscles. It’s the first episode in our You 2.0 summer series.
You 2.0: The Empathy Gym Read More »
Sometimes when we believe something, we resist data that can change our minds. This week, we look at how we rely on the people we trust to shape what we believe, and why emotions can be more powerful than facts. This episode features new reporting and favorite conversations with neuroscientist Tali Sharot and philosopher of science Cailin O’Connor.
Facts Aren’t Enough Read More »
At some point in our lives, many of us realize that the way we hear our own voice isn’t the way others hear us. This week on Hidden Brain, we look at the relationship between our voices and our identities. Plus, we hear how advances in technology might help people with vocal impairments, and consider the ethical quandaries that arise when we can create personalized, customized voices.
Finding Your Voice Read More »
The Greek poet Archilochus wrote that “the fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.” This week, we’ll use the metaphor of the fox and the hedgehog as a way to understand the differences between tacticians and big-picture thinkers. We’ll explore the story of a pioneering surgeon whose hedgehog tendencies led him to great triumphs, and a heartbreaking tragedy. This episode first aired in May 2017.
The Fox And The Hedgehog Read More »
