CM 200: Jay Van Bavel on Our Changing Identities Curious Minds at Work

We like to think of our identities as singular and stable: I’m an early riser (and will always be), or I’m a foodie (and can’t imagine otherwise).



But if we take a step back, we see how we not only hold multiple identities, but how many of these identities change over the course of our lives. 



Remember when you were a student? Or a time when you were single?



While there are some identities we can’t change, like our race or birthplace, there are many that we can. It’s the difference between fixating on “who I am now” and, instead, focusing on “who I want to be.” And that simple shift in mindset can make all the difference when it comes to living a happier, more meaningful life.



That’s what makes The Power of Us such an important book, and it’s why I wanted to talk to one of the book’s authors, NYU Professor, Jay Van Bavel. He and his co-author, Lehigh University Professor, Dominic Packer, share helpful ways to navigate the tremendous upsides and challenging downsides of our shared identities.



Episode Links



Dassler Brothers Feud



Social Identity Theory



Henri Tajfel



1951 Princeton-Dartmouth Football Game and Group Perception



Yael Granot



Leon Festinger



Charismatic Leadership and Corporate Cultism at Enron



Jay Van Bavel NYU Social Identity Lab



https://www.powerofus.online/



Psychological Safety and Learning Behavior in Work Teams by Amy Edmondson



Extraterrestrial by Avi Loeb



The Team



Learn more about host, Gayle Allen, and producer, Rob Mancabelli, here.



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