Being a human lab rat for 30 years: what happens next
Apr 13, 2024
auto_awesome
Journalist Susannah Breslin shares her experience of being a human lab rat for 30 years, reflecting on how it warped her life. The podcast delves into the impact of surveillance on identity and behavior, navigating personal challenges post-study, and exploring the influence of data collection and social media on individual narratives and self-perception.
Long-term psychological studies can shape an individual's life trajectory unexpectedly.
Personality traits remain relatively stable from childhood to adulthood, with life events influencing mental health.
Deep dives
Effects of Longitudinal Psychological Study on Participants
The podcast discusses the effects of being part of a decades-long psychological study on individuals. The speaker, Susanna Breslin, reflects on her experience of being observed and studied by researchers from childhood into adulthood. She describes the mixed impact of being constantly monitored, feeling both the center of attention and pressured to perform at a high level. Despite the challenges, Susanna acknowledges that the study potentially rescued her from a worse fate, shaping her life trajectory in unexpected ways.
Findings and Insights from the Longitudinal Study
The podcast explores the conclusions drawn from the longitudinal study conducted by the Blocks over three decades. It reveals that personality traits are relatively stable from childhood into adulthood, confirming the importance of these traits in shaping individuals. The study highlighted how different life events, such as divorce, impacted the participants and influenced their mental health. Contrary to popular beliefs at the time, the study showed that teens who experimented with drugs in moderation were better adjusted than those who abstained or abused drugs.
The Significance of Self-narrative and Critique of Research Methods
Susanna Breslin discusses the impact of the study on her self-narrative and questions the essence of research in determining human identity. She expresses skepticism towards research methods and the idea that individuals can be fully understood through data analysis. Susanna emphasizes the limitations of treating individuals as mere sums of data points, advocating for a deeper, unquantifiable essence in human nature. Despite the lack of a clear resolution, she finds value in her role as a participant in the study, shaping her sense of purpose and identity.