All In The Mind cover image

All In The Mind

The pleasure of pain

Jun 10, 2023
Exploring the relationship between pleasure, pain, and suffering. Delving into the concept of benign masochism and examples of seeking pain for pleasure. Discussing the satisfaction that comes from seeking effort, difficulty, and working through challenging tasks. Exploring the uniqueness of human appetites and the mysteries of different desires. Examining the concept of meaningful jobs and conflicting perspectives on parenthood. Discovering ground rules for achieving a mix of happiness and difficulty in life.
28:59

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • Pain and struggle can lead to meaning in life, as humans seek out challenging and effortful activities for enjoyment and a sense of mastery.
  • Benign masochism, such as enjoying spicy foods and watching scary movies, can enhance pleasure by providing controlled doses of pain and inducing contrast or a feeling of mastery and control.

Deep dives

The Paradox of Seeking Pain for Pleasure

The podcast explores the perplexing question of why humans sometimes seek out pain and suffering for pleasure. The host interviews Professor Paul Bloom, who argues that pain and struggle can actually lead to meaning in life. He discusses examples such as enjoying spicy foods, watching horror movies, and engaging in physical challenges like marathons and triathlons. The conversation delves into why humans have the basic impulse to seek out pain, and how pain can be a part of a life well lived.

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