In 'The Power of Bad', John Tierney and Roy F. Baumeister discuss the negativity effect, which is the universal tendency for negative events and emotions to affect us more strongly than positive ones. The book explains why bad experiences stick with us longer than good ones, how this bias governs our moods, drives marketing, and dominates news and politics. It also offers practical strategies to recognize and manage this negativity bias, helping readers to avoid its pitfalls and use its power for positive results[3][4][6].
In this book, Roy F. Baumeister presents a balanced view of gender relations, arguing that men and women are fundamentally different and that these differences are exploited by cultures to achieve success. Baumeister contends that men's competitive and risk-taking behaviors, as well as their ability to build larger social networks, are crucial for cultural advancement. However, he also points out that this comes at a significant cost to men, who are often seen as expendable and face higher rates of work-related accidents, incarceration, and death in battle. The book challenges common gender debate narratives and offers insights from a wide range of disciplines to support its arguments.
In 'The Denial of Death', Ernest Becker discusses the psychological and philosophical implications of how people and cultures react to the concept of death. He argues that human civilization is a defense mechanism against the knowledge of our mortality, and that this denial is a necessary component of functioning in the world. Becker's work challenges traditional Freudian thought by positing that the primary repression is not sexuality, but rather the awareness of death. He also explores how this fear of death leads to the creation of 'hero systems' and symbols that help individuals transcend their mortality, and how this can result in violence and conflict when different immortality projects clash[2][5][4].
Talking points: men, psychology, culture
Roy Baumeister is a mighty pillar in the world of psychology, with groundbreaking work on willpower, self-control, negativity bias, and much more. I had the honor of chatting with him about all of these things in the context of men. How do we develop robust self-esteem? Is it work breaking free of isolation? Are there unique social pressures? This is chock full, team.
(00:00:00) - On how men need to prove themselves, and the different social pressures between men and women
(00:07:59) - Roy on risk-taking in men and women
(00:14:01) - Roy’s most cited work, why we fixate more on the bad things, and men’s self-destructive behavior
(00:27:48) - Strategies you can use to replace unhealthy coping mechanisms
(00:34:09) - How important is it for men to have robust and diverse social circles?
(00:45:10) - What is “ego depletion”?
(00:52:21) - The effect of porn on self-control, and wisdom for men struggling with self-esteem
***
Tired of feeling like you're never enough? Build your self-worth with help from this free guide: https://training.mantalks.com/self-worth
Pick up my book, Men's Work: A Practical Guide To Face Your Darkness, End Self-Sabotage, And Find Freedom: https://mantalks.com/mens-work-book/
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