Overcoming Your Scarcity Brain w/ Michael Easter #773
Jan 10, 2024
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Guest Michael Easter, author of the book 'Scarcity Brain', explores the concept of scarcity in our modern age. Topics discussed include the scarcity loop, gambling addiction, our incessant buying of stuff, gamification, and the addictive nature of websites and sports betting apps. They also touch on behavior change campaigns, the power of numbers, the benefits of scarcity, and the impact of surroundings on decision-making.
Eliminating bad habits is more impactful than adding new good habits for personal growth.
Being aware of scarcity cues can help us make conscious choices and avoid unhelpful patterns.
Recognizing and interrupting scarcity loops can lead to more conscious purchasing decisions.
Deep dives
The Scarcity Brain and Overcoming Bad Habits
Author Michael Easter discusses the concept of scarcity and how it affects our behaviors. He suggests that instead of focusing on adding new good habits, we should focus on eliminating bad habits that are holding us back. By cutting out behaviors that are detrimental to our well-being or financial stability, we can make significant progress in improving our lives.
The Role of Scarcity Cues in Shaping Behavior
Scarcity cues are pieces of information that make us feel like the resources we need are scarce, even if they are not. Michael Easter explains that scarcity cues can be big or small, and they can influence our decisions and behaviors. He gives examples such as the fear of running out of ink in a pen or feeling the need to keep up with others' purchases. Understanding these cues can help us make more conscious choices and avoid falling into unhelpful patterns.
The Power of Gamification and Numbers
Gamification, when used effectively, can incentivize better behaviors and make progress more measurable. Michael Easter emphasizes the importance of using numbers as tools and understanding their meaning. He discusses how gamification and numbers can be used in various contexts, from fitness apps to personal finance. However, he cautions against fixating solely on the numbers and losing sight of why we pursue certain behaviors. Being aware of our motivations and the bigger meaning behind our actions is crucial for sustainable and fulfilling progress.
The Power of Scarcity Loops in Influencing Consumer Behavior
The podcast episode discusses the concept of scarcity loops and how companies use them to manipulate consumer behavior. It highlights the example of Chinese shopping websites like Taimu, which use unpredictable rewards and scarcity cues to make purchases more enticing and addictive. The episode emphasizes the importance of recognizing and interrupting these scarcity loops to make more conscious purchasing decisions.
The Benefits of Constraints and Moderation in Problem-Solving and Life Choices
The podcast explores the idea that moderation and constraints can lead to more creative problem-solving and happier lives. It shares the anecdote of an engineer playing Legos with his son and how the son's simple solution of removing blocks demonstrated a different approach to problem-solving. The episode emphasizes the value of considering subtraction as a solution and avoiding the tendency to always add more resources. It suggests that embracing moderation and setting realistic goals can lead to more fulfilling and sustainable lifestyles.
Our brains are hardwired to relentlessly believe that we don’t have enough. Michael Easter, our guest today, calls it the scarcity brain which is also the name of his recent book. And even though we know it’s definition, scarcity is likely a concept that few folks listening to this podcast have much experience with. At least in our modern age, we have enough food, shelter, and clothing on hand that the vast majority of folks haven’t felt the true impacts of real scarcity. In fact most of us have plenty of the things needed for survival, plus the countless cardboard boxes of stuff that we’re duped into purchasing on a whim. So why spend an episode talking about a shortage of resources? Well it’s because problems arise when our minds are programmed to operate in a world of scarcity, but in reality we’re living in an age of abundance. Michael has traveled the world, he’s observed tribes in the jungles of Bolivia, studied addiction in bombed out hotels in Baghdad, and spoken with the top researchers of psychology in order to understand the mind and how we form good and bad habits. We discuss the scarcity loop, gambling addiction, our incessant buying of stuff, gamification, and more during today’s episode!
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