Sheldon Solomon

Sheldon Solomon, a psychology professor and co-developer of Terror Management Theory, explores how our awareness of mortality shapes culture and behavior. He discusses how existential dread influences politics, consumerism, and religious beliefs. Solomon reveals that reminders of death can intensify materialism and bias against differing worldviews. He also highlights mindfulness and gratitude as tools to navigate death anxiety, advocating for social reforms to foster cooperation and understanding in the face of mortality.

Sheldon Solomon is a social psychologist best known for developing terror management theory concerned with how humans deal with their own sense of mortality. Shaldon's book "The Worm at the Core" is based on 25 years of in-depth research, drawing from innovative experiments conducted around the globe that shows conclusively that the fear of death and the desire to transcend it inspire us to buy expensive cars, crave fame, put our health at risk, and disguise our animal nature. SPONSORS: https://bluechew.com - Try BlueChew FREE when you use our promo code KONCRETE at checkout. EPISODE LINKS: bit.ly/3KNcfgE https://www.skidmore.edu/psychology/faculty/solomon.php FOLLOW DANNY JONES https://www.instagram.com/jonesdannyhttps://twitter.com/jonesdanny JOIN OUR KULT: https://bit.ly/koncretepatreon OUTLINE 0:00 - The #1 driver behind human consciousness 6:49 - Human cognition & awareness of death 23:17 - Death experiments on humans 28:30 - What happens when children learn about death 35:35 - Jordan Peterson 50:23 - Equality of opportunity VS equality of outcome 1:02:03 - John Locke, government, & giving up freedom 1:12:37 - American values & individualism 1:21:55 - How existential dread relates to politics 1:45:43 - Civilization collapse 2:04:32 - Climate change 2:09:52 - Artificial intelligence & immortality 2:16:09 - UFOs & schizophrenia 2:23:18 - Psychedelics 2:35:55 - What happens after we die? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this conversation, Sheldon Solomon, a social psychologist and co-developer of Terror Management Theory, delves into the profound role of death in shaping human behavior and society. He discusses how confronting mortality can lead to personal growth and authenticity, highlighting philosophical insights from Kierkegaard and Heidegger. The dialogue also touches on the impact of culture on our understanding of death, the interplay between religion and existential anxiety, and intriguing ideas about emotional AI and its relationship with human experiences.

Sheldon Solomon, Professor of Psychology, talks about terror management theory and the influence of Ernest Becker's 'The Denial of Death'. The discussion covers topics such as self-esteem, Freud's denial of death anxiety, the pursuit of meaning through heroism, flaws in Becker's book, origins of terror management theory, and achieving self-esteem from intrinsic sources.

Sheldon Solomon, a social psychologist from Skidmore College, explores the fascinating impact of death anxiety on human behavior. He discusses how our awareness of mortality drives tribalism and irrational hatred. Sheldon reveals startling insights about personal interactions and societal dynamics, illustrating how this fear shapes beliefs and consumerism. He also touches on the consequences of isolation, emphasizing the importance of addressing death anxiety for personal and societal improvement. A thought-provoking dive into the human condition awaits!