In societies where life is harder, a lot more poverty, people living more day to day, there may be less seeking out of unpleasant experiences. Maybe because people have their fill in everyday life. It might be that hunter gatherers don't engage in b d s m for instance. That's an interesting idea. You di talk about how in cultures that face more difficulties, there's a greater sense of meaning. Yes. I mean, this gets us back to pluralism. If you look at the happiest countries in the world, theyare the richest country in the world. They are also countries that have a a lot of individual freedom and social safety nets. There denmark,
Some people think humans are natural pleasure seekers. But not psychologist Paul Bloom. In his new book, “The Sweet Spot,” Paul says we’re pain seekers, too. Just think about all the uncomfortable things we do for fun — eating spicy food, climbing treacherous mountains, watching scary movies, engaging in BDSM. Why do that stuff? According to Paul, it’s because pain can enhance pleasure, chosen suffering can make you more resilient, and adversity can suffuse your life with meaning. We can all benefit from a little discomfort, and in this intimate conversation with Next Big Idea Club curator Susan Cain, Paul explains how to fit more of it into our lives.
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