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Our Souls on Technology with Andy Crouch and Jonathan Haidt

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May 13, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist known for his insights into morality and politics, teams up with culture expert Andy Crouch, whose work bridges creativity and faith. They delve into the seductive grasp of technology on human connection, arguing that it distorts relationships and community. The duo critiques social media's role in undermining democracy and mental health while championing the need for trust and ancient wisdom in overcoming modern challenges. Their conversation illuminates the path to reclaiming authentic relationships in a tech-dominated world.

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insights

INSIGHT

Social Media Causes Structural Stupidity

Social media created a sudden 'structural stupidity' in our institutions by silencing dissent.
Fear of social rejection stopped open debate, impairing collective intelligence and cooperation.

insights

INSIGHT

Technology Undermines Human Development

Most technology focuses on profit and minimization of effort, neglecting the full dimensions of human experience.
Effort, discipline, and vulnerability are necessary for healthy human development, but technology encourages avoidance of these.

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ANECDOTE

Gen Z's Mental Health Shift

Gen Z students entering college in 2013-2014 showed sudden mental fragility unlike previous generations.
Mental health demands soared as social media exposure increased during their vulnerable puberty years.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

The Paradox of Technology and Human Connection

04:38 • 26min

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Reinforcing Democracy in the Age of Misinformation

31:05 • 5min

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Building Canopies of Trust in a Chaotic World

35:43 • 5min

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Ancient Wisdom in a Modern World

40:16 • 3min

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The Happiness Hypothesis

Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom

Jonathan Haidt

In 'The Happiness Hypothesis,' Jonathan Haidt delves into the nature of happiness, fulfillment, and meaning. He discusses the division of the self into two parts: the primitive limbic system and the rational neocortex, using the metaphor of a rider and an elephant to explain the relationship between conscious and unconscious processes. Haidt examines 'Great Ideas' from ancient thinkers like Plato, Buddha, and Jesus, and evaluates them in light of contemporary psychological research. He argues that happiness is influenced by both internal and external factors, including biological set points, life conditions, and voluntary activities. The book also explores the importance of social relationships, the role of adversity in personal growth, and the concept of 'vital engagement' in work and life.

The Coddling of the American Mind

Jonathan Haidt

Greg Lukianoff

The book explores how the ideas 'what doesn’t kill you makes you weaker,' 'always trust your feelings,' and 'life is a battle between good people and evil people' have become embedded in American culture. These 'Great Untruths' contradict basic psychological principles and ancient wisdom, leading to a culture of safetyism that interferes with young people’s social, emotional, and intellectual development. The authors investigate various social trends, including fearful parenting, the decline of unsupervised play, and the impact of social media, as well as changes on college campuses and the broader context of political polarization in America.

Culture making

Recovering Our Creative Calling

Andy Crouch

In 'Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling,' Andy Crouch argues that Christians must reclaim their role as creative cultivators of culture. The book explores the complexities of how culture works, the dynamics of cultural change, and the importance of both producing cultural artifacts and making sense of the world around us. Crouch draws on biblical exposition to demonstrate that creating culture is central to the scriptural narrative, the ministry of Jesus, and the call to the church. The book is divided into three sections: Culture, Gospel, and Calling, and includes practical insights and tools for cultural cultivation, as well as guided questions for reflection and discussion.

The Righteous Mind

Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion

Jonathan Haidt

In this book, Jonathan Haidt draws on twenty-five years of research on moral psychology to explain why people's moral judgments are driven by intuition rather than reason. He introduces the Moral Foundations Theory, which posits that human morality is based on six foundations: care/harm, fairness/cheating, loyalty/betrayal, authority/subversion, sanctity/degradation, and liberty/oppression. Haidt argues that liberals tend to focus on the care/harm and fairness/cheating foundations, while conservatives draw on all six. The book also explores how morality binds and blinds people, leading to social cohesion but also to conflicts. Haidt aims to promote understanding and civility by highlighting the commonalities and differences in moral intuitions across political spectra.

Playing God

Alan Eisenstock

Anthony Youn

In "Playing God," Dr. Anthony Youn explores the ethical and societal implications of advancements in cosmetic surgery and anti-aging technologies. The book delves into the motivations behind seeking cosmetic enhancements, examining the psychological and social factors that influence our perceptions of beauty and aging. Dr. Youn also discusses the risks and benefits of various procedures, providing readers with a critical perspective on the industry. The book prompts reflection on the balance between enhancing natural beauty and altering our appearance through artificial means. Ultimately, "Playing God" encourages a thoughtful and informed approach to cosmetic procedures.

The Life We're Looking For

Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World

We were made for relationship — to be seen, loved, known, and committed to others. And yet we increasingly find ourselves, in the words of sociologist Jonathan Haidt, “disoriented, unable to speak the same language or recognize the same truth. We are cut off from one another and from the past.”

On our podcast Haidt and bestselling author Andy Crouch pair up to explore how the technology era has seduced us with a false vision of human flourishing—and how each of us can fight back, and restore true community:

“A person is a heart, soul, mind, strength, complex designed for love. And one of the really damaging things about our technology is very little of our technology develops all four of those qualities.” - Andy Crouch

We hope you enjoy this conversation about the seismic effects technology has had on our personal relationships, civic institutions, and even democratic foundations — and how we might approach rethinking our technologies and reclaiming human connection.

This podcast is an edited version of an online conversation recorded in 2022. Watch the full video of the conversation here. Learn more about Jonathan Haidt and Andy Crouch.

Authors and books mentioned in the conversation:

The Happiness Hypothesis, by Jonathan Haidt

The Coddling of the American Mind, by Jonathan Haidt

The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion, by Jonathan Haidt

Culture Making, by Andy Crouch

Playing God, by Andy Crouch

Strong and Weak, by Andy Crouch

The TechWise Family, by Andy Crouch

My TechWise Life, by Amy and Andy Crouch

The Life We're Looking For: Reclaiming Relationship in a Technological World, by Andy Crouch

Ernest Hemingway

Francis Bacon