#1221 - Jonathan Haidt
NaN minutesEpisode #1221
Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist and Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University's Stern School of Business. He's also the author of books such as "The Happiness Hypothesis" and "The Coddling of the American Mind".
Episodes with Jonathan Haidt
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Episode Timestamps
Discussion about Peter Bogosian and the Grievance Studies Hoax
- Peter Bogosian, alongside James Lindsay and Helen Pluck-Rose, conducted a hoax known as the Grievance Studies Hoax at Portland State University.
- The hoax involved submitting fake papers to academic journals to expose the lack of scholarship in certain fields of academia.
- The controversy surrounding the hoax led to Bogosian facing investigations for alleged data fabrication.
Impact of Academic Trends on University Environment
- University environment affected by rising political polarization and left-leaning faculty.
- Emergence of grievance studies and changing attitudes towards seeking truth.
- Discussion on the influence of social trends and technology on students' preparedness for conflict in college.
Freedom of Speech Threatened on College Campuses
- Intellectuals like Christina H. and centrist speakers face silencing and harassment
- Heterodox Academy founded to push back against campus shout-downs
- Selective liberal arts colleges face more cultural changes than less selective schools
Prestige-seeking Behavior and Call Out Culture
- Individuals in society constantly seek prestige and reputation management
- Comparison made to head hunting tribes for extreme prestige hunting
- Call Out Culture imposes external costs on individuals and needs to be addressed collectively
Patterns of Behavior and Polarization in Society
- Observing predetermined patterns of behavior based on political beliefs
- Rise of polarization in society since the 90s
- Pressure for conformity leading to lack of nuance and free thinking
Impact on Education and Campus Dynamics
- Shift in teaching approach due to sensitivities of students
- Challenges in discussing controversial topics like discrimination
- Introduction of microaggression reporting systems and its unintended consequences
Evolution of Microaggressions by African-American Sociologist to Modern Analysis by Darald Wing Sue and Measuring Racism
- Microaggressions traced back to an African-American sociologist in the 70s.
- Popularized by Darald Wing Sue in a 2007 article.
- Helpful concept to identify subtle or veiled racism claims as explicit racism declines.
Progress Towards a Bias-Free Society from 20th Century to Identity Politics
- Transition from legal to social prejudices based on race and orientation.
- Shift towards a bias-free society with diminishing explicit racism.
- Concerns over the rise of identity politics emphasizing division rather than common humanity.
Racism and White Privilege Impact: Crippling Effects on Children
- Teaching racism as prejudice plus power, implying only certain groups can be racist
- Imparting white privilege exercises to make certain groups feel bad about their privilege
- Highlighting the goal of victoriously combating racism, rather than seeking truth
Societal Progress vs. Moral Thresholds: Ramifications of Modern Racism
- Evolution of societal definitions leading to lower thresholds for sexism and racism
- The challenge of balancing societal progress with individuals feeling worse
- The need to address issues of race and diversity effectively without instilling hate or mistrust
Analysis of 21st Century Morality Trends & Impact on Child Development
- Discussion on the implications of 21st century morality and societal issues
- Exploration of extreme poles and the concept of societal pendulum
- Impact of progress on child development and potential consequences
Anti-fragility and Its Application in Raising Children
- Explanation of the concept of anti-fragility in child development
- Importance of exposing kids to challenges and stress for healthy development
- Discussion on the rise of peanut allergies and the role of early exposure
Impact of Bullying on Children's Mental Health
- Children can be severely affected by bullying, leading to long-term mental health issues.
- Chronic bullying can cause brain damage in children and affect their development.
- Institutions often struggle to distinguish between bullying and healthy conflict, leading to overreactions in anti-bullying efforts.
Teaching Compassion through Free Play and Independence
- Kids learn important life skills like compassion, cooperation, and leadership through unsupervised free play.
- Efforts to directly teach compassion in schools may not be as effective as experiential learning.
- Encouraging independence and allowing children to explore the world safely can lead to better emotional growth and resilience.
Raising Kids and Concerns of Letting Them Out
- Discussion about the challenges of raising children and letting them out into the world
- Concerns about other parents' lack of attention to their children's safety
- Highlighting the issues related to different parenting styles and potential dangers for kids
Rising Rates of Depression and Anxiety in Adolescents
- Analysis of the increasing rates of major depressive episodes among American teenage girls
- Comparison of mental health statistics between different age groups and generations
- Explanation of the potential impact of social media on the rise of mental health issues, especially in girls
Impact of Technology on Kids
- Technology designed to be addictive and grab attention
- Psychologists working to manipulate users, including children
- Importance of establishing sensible norms and rules for tech usage
Managing Technology for Kids' Well-being
- Implementing device-free time before sleep
- Delaying social media access till high school
- Exploring alternative tech solutions for children's safety and independence
Introducing Utah's Free Range Kids Bill
- State of Utah passed the first free range kids bill
- Parents no longer considered negligent for having unsupervised kids
- Encourages giving kids independence and trusting neighbors
Filters of Happiness and Ways to Change Them
- The world is shaped by our perceptions and filters
- Discussing positivity, negativity, and overall happiness
- Ways to change filters include meditation, cognitive therapy, and SSRIs
Decline of Teachers and Principals' Authority
- Teachers and principals facing a decline in authority
- Parents becoming more empowered in school affairs
- Concerns about competitiveness among parents affecting school grades
Promoting Critical Thinking through Free Speech Advocacy
- Discussion on critical thinking and challenges faced in teaching it
- Importance of free speech and challenging ideas for intellectual growth
- Initiatives to promote critical thinking through educational material
Discussion on Free Speech and Call Out Culture
- Concerns regarding the impact of call out culture on free speech
- Balancing anonymity benefits with potential harm of slurs and attacks
- Exploring the need for technological solutions and social norms for healthier discourse
Evolution of Human Discourse and Current Communication Challenges
- Highlighting the evolution from primitive witchcraft beliefs to modern discourse norms
- Expressing concerns over the fragility of societal norms of toleration and free speech
- Discussing the impact of internet communication tools on sloppy arguing and categorization of ideas