A Slight Change of Plans BONUS: The Science of Happiness and Change
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Sep 27, 2021 A career-ending hand injury sent violinist Laurie Santos on an unexpected path into psychology and the science of change. She and Maya explore why we misjudge how change will affect us, the surprising resilience we discover in hard moments, and how personal strengths can guide us toward greater happiness. They also tackle listener questions about uncertainty and life’s big pivots.
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Identity Shattered By Injury
- Maya lost her path as a violinist after a sudden hand injury at 15 and had to reassess her identity.
- That experience taught her to view identity as malleable and not tied to a single pursuit.
The End‑Of‑History Illusion
- People suffer from the 'end of history' illusion and underestimate how much they'll change in the future.
- We notice large past changes but assume the present self will remain stable going forward.
Personality Remains Changeable
- Personality continues to change across adulthood; traits like conscientiousness rise and neuroticism falls.
- Aging can naturally move us toward more mature, positive personality traits.