Anthropologist Tom Pearson was devastated after his daughter Michaela was diagnosed with Down syndrome. When he began to examine that emotional response, he found himself wrestling with questions that have roiled his field for decades. Early anthropologists would often compare people of different backgrounds and abilities, asking questions like: How is one group different from another? Which one is stronger or smarter? And how do we understand people who don’t fit our expectations? This week, we talk with Pearson about his family’s story, and the evolution of our thinking on disability and difference.
If you liked today's show, be sure to check out these classic Hidden Brain episodes:
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US 2.0: Lincoln's Dilemma
US 2.0: Not at the Dinner Table
US 2.0: Living With Our Differences
US 2.0: Win Hearts, Then Minds
US 2.0: What We Have In Common
Are Your Memories Real?
Finding Focus
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Making the Most of Your Mistakes
What Would Socrates Do?
How to Believe in Yourself
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