Most of our public and economic policies take aim at these sorts of people — the wrongdoers and the profiteers. But is there a hidden cost to the rest of us when we put bad actors at the center of our thinking?
Mind Reading 2.0: Our Better Angels Read More »
It’s easy to spot bias in other people, especially those with whom we disagree. But it’s not so easy to recognize our own biases. In the latest in our “Mind Reading 2.0” series, we revisit a favorite conversation with psychologist Emily Pronin. We’ll look at one of the most bewildering aspects of how we read minds — in this case, our own.
Mind Reading 2.0: The Double Standard Read More »
Life is often filled with hardships and tragedies. For thousands of years, stoic philosophers have come up with strategies to help us cope with such hardship. This week, we revisit a 2020 conversation with philosopher William Irvine about ancient ideas — backed by modern psychology — that can help us manage disappointment and misfortune.
Minimizing Pain, Maximizing Joy Read More »
For so many people across the globe, these past two years have been full of waiting and uncertainty. Waiting to see friends and family in far-flung locales. Waiting to hear about unemployment aid, or job opportunities. Waiting to hear about loved ones in the hospital. This week on Hidden Brain, we look at the psychology of relief and waiting, and how we can make periods of limbo less painful.
The rift between police and Black Americans can feel impossible to bridge. But in his work with police departments across the U.S., Yale psychologist Phillip Atiba Goff has found novel ways to address the problem.
Changing Behavior, Not Beliefs Read More »
All of us make choices all the time, and we may think we’re making those choices freely. But psychologist Eric Johnson says there’s an architecture behind the way choices are presented to us, and this invisible architecture can influence decisions both large and small.
It’s psychologically simpler to see the world in black and white. But reality often comes in shades of gray. This week, how our minds grapple with contradictions, especially those we see in other people. Additional Resources Research: Acculturation Strategies and Integrative Complexity: The Cognitive Implications of Biculturalism. Carmit T. Tadmor, Philip E. Tetlock, Kaiping Peng.
Both Things Can Be True Read More »
If you’re working from home, you might be reveling in your daily commute to the dining room table. Or you might be saying, “Get me out of here.” In the final episode of our Work 2.0 series, economist Nicholas Bloom joins us from his spare bedroom to ponder whether working from home is actually working. Podcast: Subscribe
Work 2.0: The One-Room Commute Read More »
The world of play and the world of work are often seen as opposites. But they may have more in common than we think. In the second installment of our new Work 2.0 series, Ethan Mollick makes the case that we can make our jobs more engaging by incorporating elements of games. If you like
Work 2.0: Game on! Read More »
We’ve grown accustomed to viewing climate change as an enemy we must urgently defeat. But is that the right metaphor for the greatest existential problem of our time? This week, we consider how to reframe the way we think about life on a changing planet. If you like our work, please consider supporting it! See
We Broke the Planet. Now What? Read More »
