Big Brains cover image

Big Brains

The Illusion of Moral Decline

Nov 21, 2024
Adam Mastroianni, a psychologist and postdoctoral research scholar at Columbia Business School, explores the intriguing notion of moral decline. He questions whether perceptions of increased meanness are valid or merely illusions fostered by cognitive biases. Mastroianni dives into historical perspectives on morality, revealing that feelings of decline often overshadow evidence of cooperative behavior. He argues for focusing on real social issues rather than unfounded fears, and suggests reducing news consumption for better mental well-being.
32:02

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Psychologist Adam Mastroianni's research suggests that perceptions of moral decline may be misleading, influenced by subjective experiences rather than objective reality.
  • The media's focus on negative stories fosters a distorted view of morality, prompting individuals to overlook the kindness present in their immediate social circles.

Deep dives

The Illusion of Moral Decline

The belief that society is experiencing a moral decline is widespread, with a significant majority of people feeling that kindness, trustworthiness, and general decency are decreasing over time. Psychologist Adam Mastroianni's research indicates that while these perceptions are prevalent, they may not reflect reality. By examining data spanning decades, Mastroianni reveals that perceptions of morality often stem from subjective experiences rather than empirical evidence. This disconnect between perception and reality suggests that the notion of moral decline could effectively be an illusion, shaped by psychological biases and societal narratives.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode