Hidden Brain Hidden Brain

It's not easy to know how we come across to others, especially when we're meeting people for the first time. Psychologist Erica Boothby says many of us underestimate how much other people actually like us. This week, we revisit one of our most popular episodes to look at how certain social illusions give us a distorted picture of ourselves.

Psychologist Mahzarin Banaji has spent decades exploring the implications of a startling finding: people often have unconscious attitudes that may be at odds with their conscious beliefs or values. Over the years, the concept of “implicit bias” has become well-known, and millions of people have taken a test intended to reveal such biases. We recently featured Mahzarin's work in a two-part series called "Revealing Your Unconscious: Part 1" and "Revealing Your Unconscious: Part 2." Today, she returns to the show to answer listeners' questions about her research.

Thanks for supporting our work with your subscription to Hidden Brain+! Is there someone in your life who would enjoy this episode? Please share it with them, and encourage them to subscribe to Hidden Brain+ at apple.co/hiddenbrain. Thanks!

Aging isn’t just a biological process. Our outlooks and emotions also change as we age, often in ways that boost our well-being. Psychologist Laura Carstensen unpacks the science behind this surprising finding, and shares what all of us can learn from older people.

Think about the last time you resisted watching yet another episode of your favorite TV show, or decided not to have a second piece of cake at a friend's birthday party. In many societies, self-discipline is seen as an invaluable trait. But we often overlook what makes it possible to hold back in those moments of temptation. This week, psychologist Celeste Kidd offers a new way to think about self-control. Then, we talk with researcher Jacqueline Rifkin about how to find the right balance between indulgence and restraint.

Wisdom often comes from unexpected sources. Today on the show, we hear from novelist and physician Abraham Verghese, who tells us about a terminally-ill patient who changed the course of his life.

Determination, hard work and sacrifice are core ingredients in the story of the American dream. But philosopher Jennifer Morton argues there is another, more painful requirement to getting ahead: a willingness to leave family and friends behind. This week, we revisit a favorite 2020 conversation about the ethical costs of upward mobility.