Conflicts are inevitable — both at a global scale and in our personal lives. This week, in the latest in our US 2.0 series, psychologist Peter Coleman explains how minor disagreements turn into major rifts, and how we can defuse even the most salient of disputes in our lives.Interested in learning more?For additional ideas about how to keep conflict from spiraling, check out our conversation with researcher Julia Minson. And for a look at how violence shapes political outcomes on a global scale, be sure to listen to our interview with political scientist Erica Chenoweth. 

There's a saying that's attributed to the Dalai Lama: in the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher. It's a nice idea, but in reality, when people don't share our values, it's hard for us to tolerate theirs. This week, we talk with sociologist Robb Willer about the common mistakes we make in trying to persuade others of our point of view — and how we can break out of our echo chambers.Did you catch last week's kick-off to our US 2.0 series? You can find it in this podcast feed, and here.  

The United States, we’re told, is increasingly a house divided. Conservatives and progressives are so alienated from each other that conversation is virtually impossible. But are we really as divided as we’re led to believe? As we begin what promises to be a pivotal election season, we're kicking off a new series about how we form our political beliefs. We're calling it "US 2.0." We begin with psychologist Kurt Gray, who studies how we think about our political allies and  opponents — and how these insights can help us to chart a new path forward. Have you tried to talk with someone who disagrees with you about politics? Have you found effective ways to get through? If you’d be willing to share your stories with the Hidden Brain audience,  along with any questions you have for Kurt Gray, please record a voice memo and email it to us at ideas@hiddenbrain.org. Use the subject line “politics.”  And thanks!

Elizabeth Loftus, a renowned psychologist, dives into the fascinating world of memory and its surprising fragility. She discusses how memories can be distorted and even fabricated, revealing the psychological mechanisms behind this phenomenon. Through compelling examples, including the influence of question phrasing on eyewitness testimonies, Loftus highlights the complexities of recalling past events. The conversation underscores the implications for both personal recollections and legal settings, urging listeners to rethink the reliability of their memories.

In this discussion, psychologist Gloria Mark from UC Irvine shares her expertise on how our digital lives are reshaping our attention spans. She highlights the paradox of technology, which enhances communication yet diminishes focus. Mark provides practical strategies to navigate distractions, improve workplace concentration, and emphasizes the importance of setting clear goals. Through engaging anecdotes, she encourages listeners to reflect on their habits and adopt a balanced approach to work and personal life for better focus and well-being.

Lisa Feldman Barrett, a renowned psychologist and neuroscientist, shares her groundbreaking insights on emotions as predictions rather than mere reactions. She discusses how our upbringing shapes emotional responsibility and the complexities of family dynamics. Barrett emphasizes the brain’s predictive power, revealing that emotions are influenced by context and personal experiences. She offers innovative parenting strategies, encourages reframing anxiety, and highlights ways to use these insights for personal growth and improved emotional understanding.

This week, Amy Edmondson, a Harvard Business School professor, shares her insights on how we can learn from mistakes. She discusses the difference between constructive failures that foster growth and harmful errors we should avoid. The conversation highlights the importance of a supportive culture in organizations, especially in high-stakes environments like healthcare. By embracing intelligent failure, she argues, we can transform setbacks into valuable learning opportunities, driving innovation and enhancing safety.

Tamar Gendler, a Yale philosopher, dives into the timeless insights of ancient Greek thinkers like Socrates and Aristotle. She discusses how Socratic wisdom reveals the gap between intention and action, urging self-reflection to align one's values with behaviors. Gendler highlights the 'divided self' concept, exploring internal conflicts that shape identity. With humor, she illustrates how understanding these complexities can guide us through modern challenges, emphasizing that ancient philosophies still hold invaluable lessons for today's dilemmas.

When was the last time you set a goal and struggled to reach it? Perhaps you're trying to write a novel but can't seem to get started. Or maybe you want to master a sport, but you keep making the same mistakes over and over again. This week, organizational psychologist Adam Grant guides us through the science of human potential, and teaches us how to uncover our own abilities.If you love Hidden Brain, please consider joining Hidden Brain+, our podcast subscription! You can find it on Apple Podcasts, or by clicking  here.  

We like to tell kids, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” But from a very early age, we humans are doing just that — judging others based on how they look. This week, we bring you the second part of our look at the science of beauty and talk with psychologists Vivian Zayas and Stefanie Johnson about how appearances can often lead us astray.If you haven't yet heard the first episode in this series, be sure to check it out! It's called "The Mystery of Beauty," and you can find it in this podcast feed, or on our website.