Growth Mindset Psychology: The Science of Self-Improvement

Concepts: How the Brain Constructs Reality, Emotional Experience and Who You Are - w/ Nicholas Shea

Jun 20, 2025

Nicholas Shea, a researcher from Oxford and King's College, dives into the fascinating mechanics of how our brains construct reality. He explains how concepts act as mental shortcuts, allowing for quick recognition and understanding. Shea highlights the interplay between emotion and decision-making, countering the belief that emotions compromise logic. He also tackles the evolution from simple ideas to complex concepts, influenced by social interaction and media consumption, revealing the depths of cognitive processing that shape our daily lives.

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INSIGHT

What Are Concepts?

Concepts are mental tools that organize stored information and help with thinking and categorizing the world.
We use concepts both online when interacting and offline when planning or reasoning.

INSIGHT

Concept Richness Optimizes Thinking

As concepts become richer, some reasoning steps become automatic and easier, reducing cognitive load.
This optimization lets us access complex information quickly without explicit step-by-step thinking.

ADVICE

Define Your Own Success

Vary your news and social media consumption to build well-rounded concepts.
Define success and happiness for yourself instead of adopting uncritically what media tells you to seek.

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