Shankar Vedantam is the host of the wildly popular podcast, Hidden Brain and esteemed author of the book Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain. We initially interviewed Shankar in mid 2021 but want to highlight this discussion for you again as it is one we still discuss in more recent episodes.
Before reading Shankar’s book and interviewing him for this podcast we were, as Shankar describes himself, card-carrying rationalists. We were firmly in the camp of believing rational, scientific findings and believing that lies and deception are harmful to ourselves and to our communities. However, Shankar walks us through a compelling argument, that paradoxically, self-deception actually plays a pivotal role in our happiness and well-being.
In our discussion with Shankar we cover:
We really hope you find Shankar’s unique insight on how delusions are useful as compelling as we did. If you’re a regular Behavioral Grooves listener, please consider supporting us through Patreon. Thank you!
© 2022 Behavioral Grooves
BooksNoise: A Flaw in Human Judgment by Kahneman, Sibony and Sunstein, 2021 https://amzn.to/3heyr5r
Richard Dawkins https://richarddawkins.net/
Mahabharata https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabharata
Lake Wobegon Effect https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Wobegon
Other Episodes We Talk About
The Myth of the “Relationship Spark” with Logan Ury (featuring a guest appearance by Christina Gravert, PhD): https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/the-myth-of-the-relationship-spark-with-logan-ury-featuring-a-guest-appearance-by-christina-gravert-phd/
Robert Cialdini, PhD: Littering, Egoism and Aretha Franklin: https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/robert-cialdini-phd-littering-egoism-and-aretha-franklin/
Self Control, Belonging, and Why Your Most Dedicated Employees Are the Ones To Watch Out For with Roy Baumeister: https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/self-control-belonging-and-why-your-most-dedicated-employees-are-the-ones-to-watch-out-for-with-roy-baumeister/
George Loewenstein: On a Functional Theory of Boredom: https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/george-loewenstein-on-a-functional-theory-of-boredom/
Gary Latham, PhD: Goal Setting, Prompts, Priming, and Skepticism: https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/gary-latham-phd-goal-setting-prompts-priming-and-skepticism/
John Bargh: Dante, Coffee and the Unconscious Mind: https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/john-bargh-dante-coffee-and-the-unconscious-mind/
Linda Thunstrom: Are Thoughts and Prayers Empty Gestures to Suffering Disaster Victims? https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/linda-thunstrom-are-thoughts-and-prayers-empty-gestures-to-suffering-disaster-victims/
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
[INTERVIEW] Make Choice Rewarding: Behavioral Insights in Marketing with Matthew Willcox
[GROOVING SESSION] Make Choice Rewarding: Behavioral Insights in Marketing with Matthew Willcox
Katy Milkman: How to Make Healthy Habits that Actually Last [GROOVING SESSION]
Katy Milkman: How to Make Healthy Habits that Actually Last [INTERVIEW]
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