Inner Cosmos with David Eagleman Ep92 "Why is it hard to keep a secret?"
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Feb 17, 2025 Secrets have a profound impact on our brains and relationships, with their psychological and social dynamics explored in depth. The burden of keeping secrets can affect mental health and decision-making, drawing parallels to historical figures like Abraham Lincoln. The podcast also discusses how both humans and AI deal with secrecy, raising questions about trust and negotiation tactics. Additionally, it examines the evolutionary role of deception and the complexities that arise when hidden truths become tangled webs.
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The Burden of Secrets
- Keeping secrets is unhealthy and can be more damaging than the secret itself.
- Confessing or writing about secrets improves health and reduces stress hormones, according to psychologist James Pennebaker.
Brain as a Team of Rivals
- The brain operates like a "team of rivals," with different neural networks having competing goals.
- This explains internal conflict and decision-making processes, like purchasing choices influenced by price, emotion, and social context.
Neurobiology of Secrets
- A secret arises from the struggle between competing brain networks: one wanting to reveal, the other to withhold.
- A secret is experienced consciously because it represents internal conflict, unlike boring facts or good stories.
