Today we welcome Dr. Dacher Keltner, one of the world’s foremost emotion scientists. He is a professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and the director of the Greater Good Science Center. Fun fact: he was the scientific advisor behind the beloved Pixar movie, Inside Out! He has over 200 scientific publications and six books, including Born to Be Good, The Compassionate Instinct, and The Power Paradox. His latest book is called Awe: The New Science of Everyday Wonder and How It Can Transform Your Life.

In this episode I talk to Dacher Keltner about the new science of awe. Emotions like fear and disgust have been extensively researched because of their roles in human survival. But Dr. Keltner argues that awe is also essential for well-being and community. Music, art, and nature are some of the antecedents that can induce a sense of wonder, inspiring us to be better by recognizing that we’re parts of a greater whole. We also touch on the topics of transcendence, neuroscience, evolutionary psychology, and creativity.

Website: dacherkeltner.com

Twitter: @GreaterGoodSC

Topics

02:19 The science of awe

09:59 What triggers awe?

12:31 The neuroscience and physiology of awe

17:06 The essential features of awe

19:26 A prosocial approach to evolutionary psychology

25:16 Dr. Keltner’s personal search for awe

32:24 Nature and connectivity

36:16 Are we depriving children of awe?

38:20 Awe is a life detector

40:54 Awe and creativity

42:44 The dark side of awe

45:09 Cultivating the awe mindset

53:41 The unifying purpose of awe

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