Three things generate a sense of meaning IN life;
Having meaning in your life is correlated with a sense of self certainty. Knowing who you are and having a sense of self, gives you structure and a stable way of seeing the world.
But how do you answer the question “who am I?” Our guest, Dr Brian Lowery PhD says the answer isn’t as individualistic as we may have been led to believe. Not only do those around us; our friends, co-workers and parents contribute to who we are, Brian claims they actually create who we are. Putting it bluntly, there is no way of separating “you” from your relationships.
We’ve waited a long time to talk to Brian, who is the Walter Kenneth Kilpatrick Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is a social psychologist by training, but Brian’s work is by no means traditional in that field. He studies how individuals perceive inequality, and his research explores individuals' experiences of inequality and fairness in a way that sheds light on intergroup conflict and the nature of social justice. Brian is also a fellow podcaster, hosting the show Know What You See which is definitely worth checking out.
Listeners can become a Behavioral Grooves supporter by donating to our work through Patreon. Or please consider writing us a podcast review on your app. Thanks!
Topics
(5:21) Welcome to Brian Lowery and speed round questions.
(7:34) The meaning IN life vs. the meaning OF life.
(9:23) How meaning in life is linked to a sense of self certainty.
(13:30) Context matters: those around us create who we are.
(17:13) What are you referring to when you talk about you?
(19:23) The responsibility we have when interacting with others.
(21:27) Does authenticity assume a stability of self?
(26:17) Our relationships define us while also limiting our freedom.
(30:59) The myth of rugged individualism.
(36:35) Do we really have freewill?
(42:06) What Brian talks about on his podcast, Know What You See.
(43:42) What role does music play in the identity of self?
(51:43) Grooving Session with Kurt and Tim discussing the meaning in life.
© 2022 Behavioral Grooves
Links
Know What You See Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/know-what-you-see-with-brian-lowery/id1580636076
Monty Python’s The Meaning Of Life: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAwDWZoETk4&ab_channel=MontyPython
Episode 67, George Loewenstein: On a Functional Theory of Boredom: https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/george-loewenstein-on-a-functional-theory-of-boredom/
Episode 248, John Bargh: Do We Control Situations or Do Situations Control Us? https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/control-situations-with-john-bargh/
Kimberle Crenshaw: https://www.law.columbia.edu/faculty/kimberle-w-crenshaw
Episode 307, Groove Track | Mind Over Milkshakes: Why Expectations Matter A Lot: https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/mind-over-milkshakes-groove-track/
Behavioral Grooves Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/behavioralgrooves
Musical Links
Killer Mike “Untitled”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lNsAfGDkUtk
The 5 Healthy Brain Habits Of A Neuroscientist | Dr Daniel Almeida
Money Does Boost Happiness, But Not The Way We Think It Does | Daniel Crosby
Why You Don‘t Need to be Powerful to be Influential | Vanessa Bohns
Leading Human™: How to Avoid Burnout and Create a Positive Organization
Kwame Christian: On Compassionate Curiosity, Social Justice Conversations, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch [Republish Episode 178]
Vaccinating the World: How Behavioral Science Helps. With Michael Coleman
Can People Learn to be Better at Thinking? With Richard E. Nisbett
Do We Control Situations or Do Situations Control Us? With John Bargh
Stanford Prison Experiment, 50 Years On: What Have We Really Learnt? With Dr Philip Zimbardo
[INTERVIEW] Are You More Honest with Google or Your Friends? With Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
[GROOVING SESSION] Are You More Honest with Google or Your Friends? With Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
[INTERVIEW] Does Money Really Make You Happy? The Research with Johannes Haushofer
[GROOVING SESSION] Does Money Really Make You Happy? The Research with Johannes Haushofer
[INTERVIEW] Smart Behavioral Economics Secrets Every Marketer Needs with Melina Palmer
[GROOVING SESSION] Smart Behavioral Economics Secrets Every Marketer Needs with Melina Palmer
[INTERVIEW] Why Good, Honest Employees Really Do Steal With Kelly Paxton
[GROOVING SESSION] Why Good, Honest Employees Really Do Steal With Kelly Paxton
Who Makes You Feel Grateful? Tell Them! With Chester Elton
[INTERVIEW] Attention: How to Capture It and Keep It with Ben Parr
[GROOVING SESSION] Attention: How to Capture It and Keep It with Ben Parr
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The Poetry of Science
Hidden Brain
Choiceology with Katy Milkman
The Psychology Podcast
The Science of Happiness