The Nature & Nurture Podcast

Dr. Courtney Hilton is a cognitive scientist and postdoctoral research fellow at The Music Lab at Harvard University. In this episode we talk about Courtney’s background as a musician and transition into cognitive science, and how musical cognition is studied in humans. We discuss evolutionary theories of whether music evolved for socially adaptive purposes or as a byproduct of language, how certain universal acoustic patterns such as higher pitch during play and in speaking to children, and lower pitch to signal dominance during conflict, may have given rise to the different emotions music can elicit, and how we find an optimal level of complexity in enjoying music. Additionally, we talk about Courtney’s recent work on cross-cultural patterns of music, such as singing to infants, as well as how music and musical cognition differs across cultures.

In this episode, we talk about all things narcissism: from its manifestations (grandiose vs. vulnerable), behavioral patterns, personality traits, status and reward seeking, genetic and social determinants of narcissism, the role of technology and social media use in fueling narcissism, and narcissism as an evolutionary adaptation to certain ecological niches. We also discuss Dr. Campbell’s research on “geek culture” and how this relates to status seeking and narcissism, and how narcissism relates to the hero’s journey and costly fitness indicators in evolutionary theory. Lastly, we discuss the inverse of narcissism, imposter syndrome and intellectual humility, how arousal theory and affect relate to one’s ego, and how understanding narcissism can help foster a healthy sense of self.

Dr. Mark Ho is a Cognitive Scientist and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Princeton University. His research provides insights into human planning and social cognition by developing computational theories (e.g., using probabilistic models, reinforcement learning, neural networks) and testing those theories experimentally with people. Learn more about Mark’s work at: https://markkho.github.io/ In this episode we discuss Mark’s recent research on value-guided construals (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04743-9), and how the problem of navigation relies not just on devising a path to your destination, but also how detailed to construct your mental map. Value-guided construals refer to dynamically adjusting the detail of our mental representations necessary to achieve our value-guided goals. We then talk about mental representation more broadly, both in humans and artificial intelligence, and discuss the role of intentionality and agency in humans and machines, using examples such as natural language processing algorithms and autonomous vehicles. Lastly, we talk about free will and how value-guided construals may also be utilized in social cognition, how our value-guided construals relate to other aspects of cognition such as attention, and Mark’s future research plans.

Dr. Isabelle Brocas is an economist, neuroscientist, Professor at the University of Southern California, and co-director of the Los Angeles Behavioral Economics Laboratory and the Theoretical Research in Neuroeconomic Decision Making Institute. In this episode we discuss, broadly, how neuroeconomics emerged as an interdisciplinary field combining economics and neuroscience in order to better explain what makes humans rational or irrational in different situations. We discuss game theory, the concept of rationality, Isabelle’s own research on neurodevelopment and strategic decision-making in children, the nature and nurture debate in the context of the development of economic reasoning, and finally, intervention studies which may help improve education and well-being in disadvantaged youth. Learn more about Isabelle’s work at: https://isabellebrocas.org/

Dr. Andy Norman is a philosopher, Director of the Humanism Initiative at Carnegie Mellon University, Founder of the Cognitive Immunology Research Collaborative, and author of Mental Immunity: Infectious Ideas, Mind-Parasites, and the Search for a Better Way to Think. In this episode we discuss Andy’s book and the concept of mental immunity, the evolved system in our mind used to combat mind-parasites, much like the body’s immune system combats physical pathogens. We cover a variety of topics including mental heuristics, ingroup-outgroup bias, cultural selection of memes, conspiracy thinking, truth seeking, fixed vs. growth mindsets, and the role of science and rationality in public discourse.

Dr. Iris Berent is a Professor of Psychology and Director of the Language & Mind Lab at Northeastern University. She is also the author of several books including The Blind Storyteller: How We Reason About Human Nature. In this episode we discuss Iris’ early work on language development, and how innate capacities for language inspired Iris to study our beliefs about innate parts of human nature. We talk about intuitive dualism, the tendency for us to separate mind from body in how we reason about our own cognition and behavior, and essentialism, our tendency to believe that our bodies have innate and immutable characteristics. Putting these two pieces together, the central thesis of The Blind Storyteller is that we are blind to our own human nature, because we tend to discount innate theories of mind.

Dr. Gary Laderman is the Goodrich C. White Professor of American Religious History and Cultures at Emory University, and the author of numerous books on death, spirituality, and culture, including Don’t Think About Death. In this episode we talk about Gary’s research on cultural perspectives on death throughout American history, including throughout the Civil War and after the development of the funeral industry. We discuss the role spirituality and religion play in conceptions of death, cross-culturally, and how conceptions of what is sacred extend beyond the traditionally religious. We also talk about how psychedelics and other drugs influence our perceptions on life and death, which will be the subject of Gary’s next book Sacred Drugs.

Dr. Fiery Cushman is a Professor of Psychology and Director of the Moral Psychology Research Lab at Harvard University. In this episode, we talk about the distinction and overlap between moral psychology and experimental moral philosophy research, universalist vs. relativist moral values, the evolution of cooperation, whether individuals look to themselves or the state to punish moral transgressors, aggression as it relates to moral virtue, and virtue signaling. We also discuss topics of Fiery's own research including motivation for punishment of moral transgressions, the phenomenon of moral luck, and punishment of bad luck outcomes as used to teach moral lessons.

Dr. Erik Nook is a clinical psychologist, neuroscientist, and Assistant Professor of Psychology at Princeton University.  In this episode we discuss the philosophy and early history behind the study of emotions, and outline several schools of thought including constructivism. Erik and I talk about individual differences in emotion processing, how language influences the way we represent and regulate our emotions, emotional development in children and adolescents, and how Erik's personal experiences as a clinician have shaped his research on the interaction between emotion and language. 

Dr. Christian Nawroth is an applied ethologist and a postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute of Behavioral Physiology in the Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology.   In this episode, we discuss Christian's research on farm animals, including goats and pigs, and what this research tells us about their intelligence, social cognition, memory, and decision making. We also talk more broadly about the aims of such farm animal research, and contrast basic science research with the goal of better understanding animals to improve their welfare, with animal research conducted with the goal of improving efficiency in food production. Lastly, we discuss the ethics of animal welfare, and future lines of research that might allow us to better understand animal consciousness, including virtual reality approaches.    Learn more about Christian's work at: https://christiannawroth.wordpress.com/