Success Story with Scott D. Clary Lessons - Why You Don't Know Your Real Motives | Robin Hanson - Economics Professor & Author of The Elephant in the Brain
Sep 23, 2025
Robin Hanson, an Economics professor and author of The Elephant in the Brain, delves into how our hidden motives shape behavior. He reveals that our subconscious often masks true intentions, making self-assessment unreliable. Hanson discusses laughter as a signal of social safety and how conversation often reflects status rather than information exchange. By uncovering these hidden motives, he challenges us to rethink our understanding of human nature and the stories we tell ourselves.
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Subconscious Masks Real Motives
- Your subconscious hides your true motives, so introspection often misleads.
- Robin Hanson recommends studying average human behavior to infer typical motives.
Infer Motives From Patterns
- Study average patterns across people instead of relying solely on self-reports.
- Use puzzles and contradictions to propose alternative motives that fit observed behavior.
Knowledge Can Hamper Social Faking
- Learning about hidden motives can undermine your ability to convincingly feign common motives.
- Hanson warns this may disadvantage you in social 'faking it' games.
