Paul Bloom, a prominent psychology professor specializing in moral psychology and child development, dives into fascinating topics about how children develop morality. He discusses children's innate ability to discern right from wrong and how they interpret supernatural beliefs. Bloom also explores the complexities of empathy versus disgust in moral decision-making and the potential for AI therapists. The conversation touches on societal norms around values in human and animal life, while also critiquing traditional perceptions of intelligence and the impact of formal education.
59:13
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
Psychology's Limited Real-World Application
Psychologists understand specific subdomains like memory, mental disorders, and child development better than the average person.
This specialized knowledge doesn't automatically translate to better understanding of everyday human behavior.
insights INSIGHT
Misunderstandings About Children
Babies are not blank slates; they possess sophisticated understandings of the physical and social world from birth.
Negative aspects of human behavior, like us-them psychology and some sex differences, are present early and are largely innate.
insights INSIGHT
Babies' Early Moral Compass
Babies as young as nine months old can identify "jerks" in simple scenarios.
This ability stems from an innate moral capacity shaped by natural selection, recognizing actions like helping or hindering.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In "Psych: The Story of the Human Mind," Paul Bloom provides a comprehensive overview of the field of psychology. He explores various subfields, from cognitive psychology to social psychology, offering insightful explanations of key concepts and theories. Bloom's writing style is known for its clarity and accessibility, making complex topics understandable to a broad audience. The book also addresses criticisms of the field, acknowledging its limitations while highlighting its significant contributions to our understanding of the human mind. It's a valuable resource for anyone interested in learning more about psychology.
Against Empathy
The Case for Rational Compassion
Paul Bloom
In 'Against Empathy: The Case for Rational Compassion,' Paul Bloom challenges the conventional wisdom that empathy is a moral guide. He argues that empathy, defined as feeling what others feel, is a capricious and irrational emotion that can lead to poor decision-making and even cruelty. Bloom contends that empathy distorts our judgment in various aspects of life, from philanthropy and justice to medical care and education. He advocates for a more distanced compassion based on rational, deliberative reasoning and a utilitarian approach to moral decisions. The book is grounded in scientific findings and explores the limitations and biases of empathy, suggesting that clearer, fairer, and more moral decisions can be made without relying on it.
The principles of psychology
William James
Published in 1890, 'The Principles of Psychology' is a two-volume work that lays the groundwork for understanding psychological phenomena through a scientific lens. William James discusses the relationship between mental processes and their underlying physical conditions, introducing key concepts such as the 'stream of consciousness,' the James–Lange theory of emotion, the importance of habit, and the concept of will. The book is based on James's classroom lessons and avoids metaphysical explanations, focusing instead on empirical observations and physiological processes. It has been influential in shaping the field of psychology and continues to be relevant today[4][5][2].
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother
Amy Chua
In this memoir, Amy Chua recounts her strict parenting methods, which she terms 'Chinese parenting,' and how these methods affected her relationship with her daughters, Sophia and Lulu. The book explores the cultural differences between Chinese and Western parenting styles, highlighting the intense academic and extracurricular expectations Chua placed on her daughters. It delves into the conflicts and rewards of this approach, including the daughters' achievements and the challenges they faced in adhering to their mother's demanding standards.
Memories, Dreams, Reflections
Carl Gustav Jung
Aniela Jaffé
This book is a unique blend of autobiography and psychological insight, composed from conversations with Aniela Jaffé and chapters written by Jung himself. It covers Jung's childhood, his relationship with Freud, his travels to various countries, and his deep exploration of the unconscious mind. The book delves into Jung's concepts such as the collective unconscious, archetypes, and the integration of opposites, providing a comprehensive reflection on his remarkable life and intellectual contributions[2][3][5].
Talent
How to Identify Energizers, Creatives, and Winners Around the World
Tyler Cowen
Daniel Gross
In this book, Tyler Cowen and Daniel Gross delve into the art and science of finding top talent. They cover various scientific research areas relevant to talent search, including how to conduct effective interviews, evaluate intelligence and personality traits, assess talent in online interactions, and identify undervalued talent such as women and individuals with disabilities. The authors provide practical advice and unique interview questions to help startups and organizations find and retain A-level talent.
Paul Bloom is a renowned psychologist and writer specializing in moral psychology, particularly how moral thoughts and actions develop in children. But his interests and books explore a wide range of topics, including the science of pleasure, the morality of empathy, dehumanization, immoral vs moral punishments, and our feelings about animals and robots. Bloom is a professor at the University of Toronto and previously taught at Yale for over 20 years.
Together Paul and Tyler explore whether psychologists understand day-to-day human behavior any better than normal folk, how babies can tell if you’re a jerk, at what age children have the capacity to believe in God, why the trend in religion is toward monotheism, the morality of getting paid to strangle cats, whether disgust should be built into LLMs, the possibilities of AI therapists, the best test for a theory of mind, why people overestimate Paul’s (and Tyler’s) intelligence, why flattery is undersupplied, why we should train flattery and tax empathy, Carl Jung, Big Five personality theory, Principles of Psychology by William James, the social psychology of the Hebrew Bible, his most successful unusual work habit, what he’ll work on next, and more.
Conversations with Tyler 
