Hidden Brain

How to Change the World

<p>Does power truly flow from the barrel of a gun? Pop culture and conventional history often teach us that violence is the most effective way to produce change. But is that common assumption actually true? Political scientist <a href="https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/erica-chenoweth">Erica Chenoweth</a>, who has studied more than 100 years of revolutions and insurrections, says the answer is counterintuitive. </p><p><i>If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, </i><a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/"><i>My Unsung Hero</i></a><i>! And if you'd like to support our work, you can do so at support.hiddenbrain.org.</i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

You Can&apos;t Hit Unsend

<p>Social media sites offer quick and easy ways to share ideas, crack jokes, find old friends. They can make us feel part of something big and wonderful and fast-moving. But the things we post don’t go away. And they can come back to haunt us. Today, we revisit a 2019 episode about one teenager’s social media posts, and how they destroyed an opportunity he’d worked for all his life.</p><p><i>If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, </i><a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/"><i>My Unsung Hero</i></a><i>! And if you'd like to support our work, you can do so at support.hiddenbrain.org.</i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

The Benefits of Mixed Emotions

<p>We've all been in situations where we experience mixed emotions. Maybe you've felt both joy and sadness during a big life decision, such as whether to purchase a home or accept a job offer. Or maybe you've experienced mixed feelings about the ways the COVID-19 pandemic has shaped your life. Psychologist <a href="https://business.lehigh.edu/directory/naomi-b-rothman">Naomi Rothman</a> says that while these feelings of ambivalence are uncomfortable, they can also serve us in important ways. </p><p><i>If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, </i><a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/"><i>My Unsung Hero</i></a><i>! And if you'd like to support our work, you can do so at support.hiddenbrain.org.</i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

Putting Our Assumptions to the Test

<p>Do you ever stop to wonder if the way you see the world is how the world really is?  Economist <a href="https://economics.mit.edu/faculty/banerjee">Abhijit Banerjee</a> has spent a lifetime asking himself this question. His answer: Our world views often don't reflect reality. The only way to get more accurate is to think like a scientist — even when you're not looking through a microscope. </p><p><i>If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, </i><a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/" target="_blank"><i>My Unsung Hero</i></a><i>! And if you’d like to support our work, you can do so at </i><a href="http://support.hiddenbrain.org/" target="_blank"><i>support.hiddenbrain.org</i></a><i>.</i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

Mind Reading 2.0: Why Conversations Go Wrong

<p>Do you ever struggle to communicate with your mom? Or feel like you and your spouse sometimes speak different languages? In the final episode of our "Mind Reading 2.0" series, we bring back one of our favorite conversations, with linguist Deborah Tannen. She shows how our conversational styles can cause unintended conflicts, and what we can do to communicate more effectively with the people in our lives.</p><p><i>If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, </i><a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/" target="_blank"><i>My Unsung Hero</i></a><i>! And if you’d like to support our work, you can do so at </i><a href="http://support.hiddenbrain.org/" target="_blank"><i>support.hiddenbrain.org</i></a><i>.</i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

Mind Reading 2.0: Our Better Angels

<p>Turn on the news, and you'll be bombarded with stories of people who lie, cheat, and kill. 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? Do the measures we put in place to curtail the selfish inadvertently hurt our capacity to do right by others? In the latest in our "Mind Reading 2.0" series, we revisit a 2020 episode with behavioral economist <a href="https://www.santafe.edu/people/profile/sam-bowles">Sam Bowles</a>. He argues that laws written to govern the lawless end up changing the behavior of the lawful — for the worse. </p><p><i>If you like the show, don't forget to subscribe to our </i><a href="https://news.hiddenbrain.org/"><i>weekly newsletter</i></a><i>. Every week, we'll bring you interesting research on human behavior, along with a brain teaser and a moment of joy. </i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

Mind Reading 2.0: The Double Standard

<p>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 <a href="https://psych.princeton.edu/person/emily-pronin">Emily Pronin</a>. We'll look at one of the most bewildering aspects of how we read minds — in this case, our own. </p><p><i>If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, </i><a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/" target="_blank"><i>My Unsung Hero</i></a><i>! And if you’d like to support our work, you can do so at </i><a href="http://support.hiddenbrain.org/" target="_blank"><i>support.hiddenbrain.org</i></a><i>.</i></p><p> </p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

Mind Reading 2.0: How others see you

<p>It's not easy to know how we come across to others, especially when we're meeting people for the first time. Psychologist <a href="https://oid.wharton.upenn.edu/profile/boothby/">Erica Boothby</a> says many of us underestimate how much other people actually like us. In the second installment of our Mind Reading 2.0 series, we look at how certain social illusions give us a distorted picture of ourselves. </p><p><i>If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, </i><a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/" target="_blank"><i>My Unsung Hero</i></a><i>! And if you’d like to support our work, you can do so at </i><a href="http://support.hiddenbrain.org/" target="_blank"><i>support.hiddenbrain.org</i></a><i>.</i></p><p> </p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

Mind Reading 2.0: Why did you do that?

<p>As we go through life, we’re constantly trying to figure out what other people are thinking and feeling. Psychologist <a href="https://www.bc.edu/bc-web/schools/mcas/departments/psychology/people/faculty-directory/liane-young.html">Liane Young</a> says this ability to assess other people's thoughts ​is an extraordinary feat of cognition. But this mental superpower can sometimes lead us astray. This week, we kick off a new series exploring how we understand — or fail to understand — the minds of other people.</p><p><i>If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, </i><a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/" target="_blank"><i>My Unsung Hero</i></a><i>! And if you’d like to support our work, you can do so at </i><a href="http://support.hiddenbrain.org/" target="_blank"><i>support.hiddenbrain.org</i></a><i>.</i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

My Unsung Hero: Sanaa Kerroumi&apos;s Story

<p>Sanaa is on her train ride home when an angry man begins threatening her. Before he gets too close, a stranger intervenes. </p><p><i>Please share the story of your unsung hero with us! To do so, record a voice memo on your phone and email us at myunsunghero@hiddenbrain.org.</i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

Minimizing Pain, Maximizing Joy

<p>Life is often filled with hardships and tragedies. For thousands of years, philosophers have come up with strategies to help us cope with such hardship. This week, we revisit a 2020 conversation with philosopher <a href="https://www.williambirvine.com/">William Irvine</a> about ancient ideas — backed by modern psychology — that can help us manage disappointment and misfortune.</p><p><i>If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, </i><a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/"><i>My Unsung Hero</i></a><i>! And if you'd like to support our work, you can do so at support.hiddenbrain.org.</i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

What Makes Relationships Thrive

<p>Everyone wants to be loved and appreciated. But psychologist <a href="https://www.sas.rochester.edu/psy/people/faculty/reis_harry/">Harry Reis</a> says there’s another ingredient to successful relationships that’s every bit as important as love.</p><p><i>If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, </i><a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/"><i>My Unsung Hero</i></a><i>! And if you'd like to support our work, you can do so at support.hiddenbrain.org.</i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

My Unsung Hero: Wendy McDowell&apos;s Story

<p>It's 1979, and Wendy is eight years old, crying alone in an airport. Then she sees a woman in white walking towards her.</p><p><i>In a few weeks we'll be running these episodes exclusively on the </i><a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/"><i>My Unsung Hero feed</i></a><i>. Please don’t miss any of these wonderful stories —  subscribe now on </i><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-unsung-hero/id1586880312"><i>Apple</i></a><i>, </i><a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2lBDAGE8UkizPEC2ZjmgaP"><i>Spotify</i></a><i>, or wherever you get your podcasts. </i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

Changing Behavior, Not Beliefs

<p>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 <a href="https://afamstudies.yale.edu/people/phillip-atiba-goff">Phillip Atiba Goff</a> has found novel ways to address the problem.</p><p><i>If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, </i><a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/"><i>My Unsung Hero</i></a><i>! And if you'd like to support our work, you can do so at support.hiddenbrain.org. </i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

Choose Carefully

<p>All of us make choices all the time, and we may think we're making those choices freely. But psychologist <a href="https://www8.gsb.columbia.edu/cbs-directory/detail/ejj3">Eric Johnson</a> says there's an architecture behind the way choices are presented to us, and this invisible architecture can influence decisions both large and small. </p><p><i>If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, </i><a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/"><i>My Unsung Hero</i></a><i>! And if you'd like to support our work, you can do so at support.hiddenbrain.org. </i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

Creatures of Habit

<p>At the beginning of the year, many of us make resolutions for the months to come. We resolve to work out more, to procrastinate less, or to save more money. Though some people stick with these aspirations, many of us fall short. This week, we revisit our 2019 conversation with psychologist <a href="https://www.marshall.usc.edu/personnel/wendy-wood">Wendy Wood</a>, who shares what researchers have found about how to build good habits — and break bad ones.</p><p><i>If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, </i><a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/"><i>My Unsung Hero</i></a><i>! And if you'd like to support our work, you can do so at </i><a href="https://www.patreon.com/HiddenBrain"><i>support.hiddenbrain.org</i></a><i>. </i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

My Unsung Hero: Justin Horner&apos;s Story

<p>Justin is  sitting on the side of the freeway, hoping someone will help him fix his busted wheel. Right around the time he’s about to give up, a van pulls over.</p><p><i>Would you like to share the story of an unsung hero who helped you in a moment of need? If so, please record a voice memo and send it to myunsunghero@hiddenbrain.org. </i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

Bringing Up Baby

<p>Bababa, dadada, ahgaga. Got that? Babies are speaking to us all the time, but most of us have no clue what they're saying. To us non-babies, it all sounds like charming, mysterious gobbledegook. To researchers, though, babbling conveys important information about a baby's readiness to learn. This week, we'll revisit a favorite episode exploring the language and behavior of the newest members of the human family.</p><p><i>If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, </i><a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/"><i>My Unsung Hero</i></a><i>! And if you'd like to support our work, you can do so at </i><a href="https://www.patreon.com/HiddenBrain"><i>support.hiddenbrain.org</i></a><i>. </i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

The Psychology of Self-Doubt

<p>We all have times when we feel like a fraud. Psychologist <a href="https://education.utexas.edu/faculty/kevin_cokley">Kevin Cokley</a> studies the corrosive effects of self-doubt, and how we can turn that negative voice in our heads into an ally.  </p><p><i>If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, </i><a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/"><i>My Unsung Hero</i></a><i>! And if you'd like to support our work, you can do so at support.hiddenbrain.org. </i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

My Unsung Hero: Leah Bartell&apos;s Story

<p>It's 1994, and two men corner Leah on a dark street as she's walking home. Then she sees a car, and a glimmer of hope.</p><p><i>To hear more stories like this, subscribe to our new podcast, </i><a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/"><i>My Unsung Hero</i></a><i>. And we'd love to hear your own story: send a voice memo to myunsunghero@hiddenbrain.org.</i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

Both Things Can Be True

<p>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. </p><p><i>If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, </i><a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/"><i>My Unsung Hero</i></a><i>! And if you'd like to support our work, you can do so at support.hiddenbrain.org. </i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

Work 2.0: The One-Room Commute

<p>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 <a href="https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/faculty-research/faculty/nicholas-bloom">Nicholas Bloom</a> joins us from his spare bedroom to ponder whether working from home is actually working. </p><p><i>If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, </i><a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/"><i>My Unsung Hero</i></a><i>! And if you'd like to support our work, you can do so at support.hiddenbrain.org. </i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

My Unsung Hero: Tony Ludlow&apos;s Story

<p>Tony is angry at his English teacher, Mrs. Holman, for making him stay after class. But on the last day of school, she takes his hand, and tells him something he'll never forget.</p><p>To hear more stories like this, <a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/">subscribe, and enjoy!</a></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

Work 2.0: Rebel with a Cause

<p><i><strong>Editor's note, December 6, 2024: </strong>Since we first published this episode with Francesca Gino in 2018, other researchers have raised concerns about the integrity of her work. In 2023, a group of scientists </i><a href="https://datacolada.org/109" target="_blank"><i>publicly alleged</i></a><i> that she had fabricated data in some of her studies. You can find more information about their analysis at </i><a href="http://datacolada.org/" target="_blank"><i>Data Colada.org</i></a><i>. </i></p><p><i>Gino has denied these allegations.</i></p><p><i>A number of Francesca Gino’s studies have been retracted by the journals that published them, including a </i><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S074959781630437X" target="_blank"><i>study about karaoke</i></a><i> that is referenced in this episode. </i></p><p>Francesca Gino studies rebels - people who practice "positive deviance" and achieve incredible feats of imagination. They know how and when to break 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 Francesca.  </p><p><i>If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, </i><a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/"><i>My Unsung Hero</i></a><i>! And if you'd like to support our work, you can do so at support.hiddenbrain.org. </i></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

Work 2.0: Life, Interrupted

<p>Many of us spend our workdays responding to a never-ending stream of emails and texts. We feel stressed out and perpetually behind on our to-do list. But what if there was a better way to work? This week, we revisit a favorite conversation about "deep work" with computer scientist <a href="https://people.cs.georgetown.edu/~cnewport/">Cal Newport</a>. And we'll visit a lab that's studying whether brain stimulation can improve our ability to handle multitasking and interruptions. </p> <p><em>If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, <a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/">My Unsung Hero</a>! And to learn more about human behavior and ideas that can improve your life, subscribe to our newsletter at<a href="http://news.hiddenbrain.org/"> news.hiddenbrain.org</a>.</em></p> <p> </p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

My Unsung Hero: Terri Powers&apos; Story

<p>Today we're sharing another episode of our new podcast, My Unsung Hero. To hear more stories like this, <a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/">subscribe, and enjoy!</a></p> <p>It's a few days after her mother's death, and Terri Powers is at the checkout line in a grocery store. As she turns to leave, the bagger stops her, and asks a question. </p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

Work 2.0: Game On!

<p>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, <a href="https://mgmt.wharton.upenn.edu/profile/emollick/">Ethan Mollick</a> makes the case that we can make our jobs more engaging by incorporating elements of games. </p> <p><em>If you like our work, please consider supporting it! See how you can help at</em><a href="http://support.hiddenbrain.org/"><em> support.hiddenbrain.org</em></a><em>. And to learn more about human behavior and ideas that can improve your life, subscribe to our newsletter at</em><a href="http://news.hiddenbrain.org/"><em> </em><em>news.hiddenbrain.org</em></a><em>.</em></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

Work 2.0: The Obstacles You Don&apos;t See

<p>Introducing new ideas is hard. Most of us think the best way to win people over is to push harder. But organizational psychologist <a href="https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/faculty/directory/nordgren_loran.aspx">Loran Nordgren</a> says a more effective approach is to focus on the invisible obstacles to new ideas. </p> <p><em>If you like our work, please consider supporting it! See how you can help at</em><a href="http://support.hiddenbrain.org/"><em> support.hiddenbrain.org</em></a><em>. And to learn more about human behavior and ideas that can improve your life, subscribe to our newsletter at</em><a href="http://news.hiddenbrain.org/"><em> </em><em>news.hiddenbrain.org</em></a><em>.</em></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

We Broke the Planet. Now What?

<p>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. </p> <p><em>If you like our work, please consider supporting it! See how you can help at</em><a href="http://support.hiddenbrain.org/"><em> support.hiddenbrain.org</em></a><em>. And to learn more about human behavior and ideas that can improve your life, subscribe to our newsletter at</em><a href="http://news.hiddenbrain.org/"><em> </em><em>news.hiddenbrain.org</em></a><em>.</em></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>

My Unsung Hero: Rick Mangnall&apos;s Story

<p>Today we're sharing another episode of our new podcast, My Unsung Hero. <a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/">Subscribe, and enjoy!</a></p> <p>In 2008, while driving to work, Rick Mangnall crashes into a slab of granite rock. He's hanging upside down in his seatbelt when he sees an old Ford truck pull over across the road.</p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>