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Revolution Now!

Revolution Now! with Peter Joseph | Ep #52 | Oct 16th 2024

Oct 17, 2024
In a thought-provoking discussion with Alfie Kohn, an author and educational psychologist, Peter Joseph dismantles the myth that competition fuels personal growth and innovation. They explore how competitive environments stifle creativity, with Kohn's research revealing detrimental effects on original thought. The conversation critiques reliance on monetary rewards, urging a shift towards intrinsic motivation for genuine progress. They also shine a light on market-driven inefficiencies, like planned obsolescence, that perpetuate societal issues.
34:36

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Competition is detrimental to creativity, as studies show it leads to less original outcomes and hampers innovative problem-solving.
  • Market capitalism fosters a 'winner-takes-all' mentality, prioritizing self-interest over community welfare and contributing to social apathy.

Deep dives

The Impact of Competition on Creativity

Research reveals that competition significantly undermines creativity among individuals. In a study involving 7 to 11-year-olds, children who were told they were in a contest produced collages that were rated as less creative and original compared to those who were encouraged to simply have fun. This finding was echoed in a subsequent study with business people, where those competing for success performed poorly on creative problem-solving tasks. The overarching conclusion from these studies emphasizes that competitive environments hinder rather than promote innovative thinking.

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