Conversations with Tom | Social Psychologist Explains How Good Intentions & Bad Ideas Are Leading Us To Failure

Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt researches moral psychology to help us understand ourselves and our world better. He is an expert on how we create webs of meaning that allow us to speak a common language, build institutions, and create functioning societies. And right now we may need his voice more than ever, as our webs of meaning seem to be in conflict with each other or slowly disintegrating. On this episode of Conversations with Tom Bilyeu, Jonathan Haidt explains why we need to lead with empathy, how to persuade people who have staked out very different positions from yours, and how to invite disconfirming evidence into your life.

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SHOW NOTES:

 

Why are we 90% chimps and 10% bees? [2:01]

Jonathan suggests a definition of morality [4:14]

Jonathan and Tom discuss religion and spiritual, mind-opening experiences [5:53]

Jonathan explains the “hive switch”, the group experience of religion and morality [11:27]

Jonathan and Tom discuss the power of connection and group interaction [16:34]

Jonathan talks about the problems with social media and how they developed [20:18]

What makes some webs of meaning so powerful that they spread so fast? [27:57]

Jonathan and Tom ask to what extent political affiliation is genetic [33:29]

Jonathan discusses the disturbing trend towards conformity in political thought [37:18]

Jonathan and Tom discuss changing American attitudes towards race [

Jonathan talks about how hard it is to lead with empathy [46:52]

Jonathan advocates trying many approaches to dealing with problems like racism [50:30]

How do we constructively discuss difficult topics? [54:51]

Why we have to get people to focus on similarities [59:02]

Jonathan discusses his experience with psychedelics [1:03:52]

How to invite disconfirming evidence into your life--How do you know you’re right? [1:10:44]

We need to find a way to speak a common language in our post-Babel Age [1:16:27]

 

FOLLOW JONATHAN:

 

WEBSITE: jonathanhaidt.com/

FACEBOOK: facebook.com/jonathanhaidt/

TWITTER: twitter.com/JonHaidt

 

BOOKS MENTIONED:

 

“Tao Te Ching” Lao Tzu

“Tao of Jeet Kune Do”, Bruce Lee

“Dancing in the Streets: A History of Collective Joy”, Barbara Ehrenreich

“Keeping Together in Time”, William McNeill

“Long Walk to Freedom”, Nelson Mandela

 

Emile Durkheim is mentioned often: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89mile_Durkheim 

Om Podcasten

If you’re looking to thrive in uncertain times, achieve unprecedented goals, and improve the most meaningful aspects of your life, then Impact Theory is the show for you. Hosted by Tom Bilyeu, a voracious learner and hyper-successful entrepreneur, the show investigates and analyzes the most useful topics with the world’s most sought-after guests. Bilyeu attacks each episode with a clear desire to further evolve the holistic skillset that allowed him to co-found the billion dollar company Quest Nutrition, generate over half a billion organic views on his content, build a thriving marriage of over 20 years, and quantifiably improve the lives of over 10,000 people through his school, Impact Theory University. Bilyeu’s insatiable hunger for knowledge gives the show urgency, relevance, and depth while leaving listeners with the knowledge, tools, and empowerment to take control of their lives and develop true personal power.