The Daily Stoic

chevron_right

Solving The Epidemic of Mental Illness Caused By Social Media | Jonathan Haidt

whatshot 129 snips

Apr 3, 2024

Guest

Jonathan Haidt

Jonathan Haidt, a Professor of Ethical Leadership at NYU, tackles the detrimental effects of social media on mental health. He discusses how ancient Stoic principles can help navigate contemporary anxieties faced by Gen Z. The conversation delves into the unique challenges posed by short-form media and its links to rising anxiety and depression among youth. Haidt emphasizes the importance of mindful technology use, healthy routines, and fostering community-driven norms to improve well-being in a digitally saturated world.

01:16:22

forum

Ask episode

web_stories

AI Snips

view_agenda

Chapters

menu_book

Books

auto_awesome

Transcript

info_circle

Episode notes

insights

INSIGHT

Stoic Warnings

The Stoics predicted the pitfalls of social media by addressing human tendencies like gossip and distraction.
Haidt's book, "The Coddling of the American Mind," explores similar themes.

insights

INSIGHT

Stoicism and Anxiety

Jonathan Haidt connected with Ryan Holiday over a shared experience with an Australian tour promoter.
Haidt's work now incorporates Stoicism, focusing on human flourishing and anxiety.

insights

INSIGHT

Social Media Trap

Social media users are trapped in a collective action problem, unable to quit because everyone else is on it.
The Stoics recognized the power of reputation and social pressure.

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

Introduction to Stoic Wisdom and Guest Insights

01:38 • 3min

chevron_right

Navigating Anxiety in the Age of Social Media Through Stoicism

04:10 • 2min

chevron_right

Exploring Stoicism in the Age of Social Media

06:28 • 2min

chevron_right

Stoicism Meets Social Media

08:47 • 7min

chevron_right

Social Media and Mental Well-Being

15:29 • 15min

chevron_right

Navigating Children's Digital Environment and Technology Choices

30:20 • 4min

chevron_right

The Impact of Short-Form Media on Mental Health

34:23 • 20min

chevron_right

The Medium of Anger: Understanding Social Media's Impact

54:32 • 5min

chevron_right

Stoicism in the Digital Age

59:27 • 20min

chevron_right

The Transformation of Politics in the Age of Social Media

Furious Hours by Casey Cep is a captivating blend of true crime and literary biography. It explores the mysterious murders linked to Reverend Willie Maxwell in rural Alabama and Harper Lee's fascination with the case, which she hoped to turn into her next book. The narrative delves into the racial politics of the Deep South and offers a poignant portrait of Lee's struggles with fame and creativity.

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.

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.

Deep Work

Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World

Cal Newport

In 'Deep Work', Cal Newport argues that the ability to perform deep work—professional activities in a state of distraction-free concentration—is becoming increasingly valuable in our economy. The book is divided into two parts: the first part explains why deep work is valuable, rare, and meaningful, while the second part presents four rules to transform your mind and habits to support this skill. These rules include 'Work Deeply', 'Embrace Boredom', 'Quit Social Media', and 'Drain the Shallows'. Newport provides actionable advice and examples from various successful individuals to help readers master the skill of deep work and achieve groundbreaking results.

The Anxious Generation

Jonathan Haidt

In 'The Anxious Generation', Jonathan Haidt examines the sudden decline in the mental health of adolescents starting in the early 2010s. He attributes this decline to the shift from a 'play-based childhood' to a 'phone-based childhood', highlighting mechanisms such as sleep deprivation, attention fragmentation, addiction, loneliness, social contagion, and perfectionism that interfere with children’s social and neurological development. Haidt proposes four simple rules to address this issue: no smartphones before high school, no social media before age 16, phone-free schools, and more opportunities for independence, free play, and responsibility. The book offers a clear call to action for parents, teachers, schools, tech companies, and governments to restore a more humane childhood and end the epidemic of mental illness among youth.

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 Stoic Challenge

A Philosopher's Guide to Becoming Tougher, Calmer, and More Resilient

William B. Irvine

In "The Stoic Challenge," William B. Irvine presents a practical guide to applying Stoic philosophy to overcome challenges and build resilience. The book delves into core Stoic principles, such as negative visualization and the dichotomy of control, offering exercises and techniques to help readers develop mental toughness. Irvine emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and self-improvement, encouraging readers to confront their weaknesses and strive for virtue. He provides real-world examples and relatable anecdotes to illustrate the principles, making the philosophy accessible and engaging. The book is a valuable resource for those seeking to improve their emotional well-being and navigate life's difficulties.

Jonathan Haidt is the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University’s Stern School of Business. He obtained his PhD in social psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and taught at the University of Virginia for sixteen years. His research focuses on moral and political psychology, as described in his book The Righteous Mind. His latest book, The Anxious Generation, is a direct continuation of the themes explored in The Coddling of the American Mind.

You can grab a signed copy of his books, The Happiness Hypothesis, The Righteous Mind, and The Coddling Mind from The Painted Porch - https://www.thepaintedporch.com/search?type=product&q=jonathan+haidt*

Jonathan’s Substack: AfterBabel.com

www.anxiousgeneration.com

X: @jonhaidt

IG: @realjonathanhaidt

✉️ Sign up for the Daily Stoic email: https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail

🏛 Check out the Daily Stoic Store for Stoic inspired products, signed books, and more.

📱 Follow us: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, Facebook

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Home Top podcasts Popular guests