Hidden Brain

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Emotions 2.0: The Feeling that Moves Us Forward Oct 28, 2024

Show notes

For centuries, philosophers and theologians have warned about the dangers of pride and hubris. It’s an emotion that can make us arrogant, egotistical, and reckless. But psychologist Jessica Tracy suggests this caution is too broad. She argues that when we see pride only as a negative emotion, we miss out on all the powerful ways it can also be a driver of creativity, altruism, and accomplishment.

Did you catch last week's conversation about collective emotions? It's the episode in this feed called "Emotions 2.0: When I Feel What You Feel."

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Emotions 2.0: When I Feel What You Feel Oct 21, 2024

Show notes

This week, we kick off our new series, Emotions 2.0, with a special double episode about the emotions we experience with other people. We often think that emotions like happiness or sadness live inside our individual minds. But if you’ve ever gone to a music concert in a big stadium or attended a political rally with like-minded voters, you know that emotions can move through crowds in powerful ways. We begin with psychologist Amit Goldenberg, who studies how emotions spread and ratchet up in intensity as more people experience them. Then, we bring you a favorite 2022 conversation with anthropologist Dimitris Xygalatas, who takes us inside the world of fire walking to explore the emotional power of rituals.

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How to Win People Over Oct 14, 2024

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We humans are a social species, and so it's not surprising that we care a lot about what other people think of us. It's also not surprising that many of us stumble when we try to manage others' views of us. This week, organizational psychologist Alison Fragale explains why that is, and offers better ways to win friends and influence people.

Enjoy today's episode? Be sure to check out some of these other Hidden Brain conversations:

How Others See You

You 2.0: How to See Yourself Clearly

Innovation 2.0: The Influence You Have

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What's Hidden in Your Words Oct 07, 2024

Show notes

I. Me. My. You. He. She. They. It. To. Of. For. These are all words we use without a second thought. But psychologist James Pennebaker says if we pay close attention to the patterns in speech and writing, we can understand profound things about others, and even ourselves.

For more on the relationship between language and our minds, check out this classic Hidden Brain episode: https://hiddenbrain.org/podcast/watch-your-mouth/

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Sitting With Uncertainty Sep 30, 2024

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It can sometimes be exciting when we don't know what's coming next. Other times, the unknown can be deeply troubling. This week, we talk with researcher Dannagal Goldthwaite Young about how we respond to uncertainty, and why this psychological trait plays a surprisingly large role in shaping our behavior, perspectives — even our political beliefs.

If you'd like to learn more about the intersection between psychology and our political views, check out these other Hidden Brain episodes:

Moral Combat

US 2.0: Not at the Dinner Table

US 2.0: What We Have in Common

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Rewrite Your Money Story Sep 23, 2024

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Money worries are one of the biggest sources of anxiety in our lives. Psychologist Brad Klontz says these worries are shaped by more than the number in our bank accounts — they’re often driven by our unconscious beliefs. This week, we bring you a favorite 2022 conversation with Klontz, who says it’s possible to identify and change what he calls our “money scripts.”

For more of our work, please consider joining our podcast subscription, Hidden Brain+. It's our home for conversations and ideas you won't hear anywhere else. Plus, you'll be providing vital support for the work that we do. If you listen on Apple Podcasts, you can find us at apple.co/hiddenbrain. If you use other podcast platforms or devices, you can sign up at support.hiddenbrain.org. Thanks for your support!

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You 2.0: Fighting Despair Sep 16, 2024

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Every morning, you wake up and face the world. What does it look like to you? Do you see a paradise of endless opportunities, where people are friendly and helpful? Or a world filled with injustice, where people cannot be trusted? In the final installment of this year's You 2.0 series, we talk with psychologist Jamil Zaki about how we become disillusioned and distrustful of the world, and how to balance realism with hope.

Did you miss any of the other episodes in the You 2.0 series? Make sure to give them a listen here or on our website:

And if you like today's conversation with Jamil Zaki, be sure to check out our earlier conversation with him, "The Empathy Gym."

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You 2.0: Remember More, Forget Less Sep 09, 2024

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It happens to the best of us — we blank on someone's name, or forget an important meeting, or bomb a test we thought we'd ace. In this week's installment of our You 2.0 series, we talk to cognitive scientist Daniel Willingham about the mysteries of memory: how it works, why it fails us, and how to build memories that stick.

For more of our You 2.0 series, listen to our episode on how to say no.

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You 2.0: How To Say No Sep 02, 2024

Show notes

Saying no to someone who asks for something is often easier said than done. Maybe it's a boss who wants you to take on a new assignment. Or your kid's teacher, seeking volunteers for a field trip. Or a friend who asks you to lend her money. How should we respond to these demands on our time, energy, and resources? This week, psychologist Vanessa Patrick explores why it's so hard to say no, and how we can set boundaries that will make it easier to do so.

If you haven't yet caught the first two episodes in this year's You 2.0 series, you can find them in this podcast feed, or on our website:

You 2.0: The Gift of Other People

You 2.0: Taking Control of Your Time

Thanks for listening!

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You 2.0: Taking Control of Your Time Aug 26, 2024

Show notes

Many of us feel like there aren't enough hours in the day. We struggle to make time for all the competing demands at work and at home, and inevitably feel like we're letting someone down. But what if there were a way to reclaim our time and, as a result, get more joy out of our lives? In the second episode of this year's You 2.0 series, psychologist Cassie Mogilner Holmes explains how we've fallen victim to the illusion of time scarcity, and what we can do to spend our time more wisely.

If you enjoy today's episode, check out last week's kick-off to our series, "You 2.0: The Gift of Other People."

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