Breaking beliefism Tali Sharot
Jul 4, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Tali Sharot, a neuroscientist renowned for her work at UCL and MIT, delves into the intersection of emotion and decision-making. She explores how our habits shape our ability to appreciate life's small joys. The conversation turns to the psychology of lying—how repetition makes it easier—and highlights the role of social media in fostering narcissism. Sharot also examines the comfort of deep-rooted beliefs, even in the face of scientific evidence, and offers insights on navigating complex relationships with humor.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
The ACE Model of Information Seeking
- People seek information based on action utility, cognitive curiosity, and emotional impact.
- These three factors can compete or align, influencing what we want to know.
Negative Info Fuels Mental Health Woes
- People with worse mental health tend to seek more negative information online.
- This can worsen their mood and create a vicious cycle of negative feedback.
Reward in Others' Losses
- Schadenfreude activates reward brain areas, making others' losses feel rewarding as well as personal gains.
- Evaluations can be relative; an achievement feels better when others perform worse.
