

How Your Mind Changes Over Time & The Upside of Uncertainty - SYSK Choice
Mar 1, 2025
Paul Bloom, a professor of psychology and author, reveals how our minds evolve with age, suggesting that major happiness spikes occur later in life. He emphasizes the role of personal experiences in shaping morality and personality. Meanwhile, Nathan Furr, an innovation professor, challenges our fear of uncertainty, advocating for a mindset shift that embraces risks as gateways to opportunity. Together, they explore the complex relationship between happiness, moral development, and the transformative potential of uncertainty in our lives.
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Happiness Curve
- Happiness levels change throughout life, dipping in mid-50s before rising again.
- People are often happiest in their 70s and 80s, contrary to popular belief.
Older People and Death
- While death is an unwelcome prospect, older people's mindset shifts.
- This shift reduces death's impact on their happiness, unlike younger individuals.
Human Kindness and Morality
- Humans are capable of kindness and love, extending beyond kin to strangers.
- Natural variations exist in morality, like other traits, with some more aggressive or empathetic.