The Surprising Science of Cynicism (Plus: The Policy Paradox of the 2024 Election)

The Surprising Science of Cynicism (Plus: The Policy Paradox of the 2024 Election)

Derek shares his biggest frustrations about the 2024 election, like the lack of a policy debate and blind spots in news coverage and polling analysis. Then he welcomes Jamil Zaki to the show: a professor of psychology at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab. Zaki is the author of ‘Hope for Cynics,’ a new book that explores tension at the heart of human affairs. On one hand, social cooperation is the basis of human civilization. And yet cynicism—a baseline aversion to social cooperation and assumption that most people are greedy, selfish, and dishonest—is also core to the human experience. We are constantly violating the secret of our own success by assuming the worst in others, and Professor Zaki explains why. If you have questions, observations, or ideas for future episodes, email us at PlainEnglish@Spotify.com. Host: Derek Thompson Guest: Jamil Zaki Producer: Devon Baroldi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Avsnitt(370)

Americans Think the Economy Is Terrible. The Data Tell Another Story.

Americans Think the Economy Is Terrible. The Data Tell Another Story.

By many measures, this is one of the best times to find a job in decades. And by many measures, Americans are locked in a state of extreme glumness about the country. Jordan Weissmann, Washington edit...

11 Juli 202357min

How the Digital Workplace Broke Our Brains

How the Digital Workplace Broke Our Brains

Calvin Newport is a computer science professor at Georgetown University and the author of, among other books, 'Deep Work' and 'A World Without Email.' At the heart of so much of Newport’s work is this...

5 Juli 20231h 3min

What Just Happened in Russia This Weekend?

What Just Happened in Russia This Weekend?

University of Chicago professor Paul Poast breaks down Yevgeny Prigozhin's rebellion, Vladimir Putin's weakness, Russia's military incompetence, and the long-term implications of Saturday's bizarre 36...

27 Juni 202357min

The Science of Procrastination—and How to Really Get Stuff Done

The Science of Procrastination—and How to Really Get Stuff Done

Today’s episode is the first in a new miniseries about getting stuff done. This episode in particular is about NOT getting stuff done. I consider myself an exceptional procrastinator. There are many t...

20 Juni 202356min

Why Fertility Rates Are Plunging—in the U.S., South Korea, and Everywhere Else

Why Fertility Rates Are Plunging—in the U.S., South Korea, and Everywhere Else

Last year, there were 3,661,220 babies born in the U.S. That sounds like a lot. But historically speaking, it’s really not. It’s actually 15 percent below our peak in 2007. And it means America’s tota...

13 Juni 20231h 4min

Why So Many Young Men Are Lonely, Sexless, and Extremely Online

Why So Many Young Men Are Lonely, Sexless, and Extremely Online

Today’s episode is about the state of men in America. Last week, the non-profit institute Equimondo published a report on the state of men and boys in America: “Many men—especially younger men—are soc...

6 Juni 202353min

How Hollywood's Writers Strike Could Change the Future of TV and Movies

How Hollywood's Writers Strike Could Change the Future of TV and Movies

In May of this year, the Writers Guild of America went on strike. For weeks, TV and film writers have been walking in picket lines in Los Angeles and New York, and the strike threatens to bring TV and...

30 Maj 202350min

Why Youth Sports in America Are in Decline

Why Youth Sports in America Are in Decline

In the last five years, high school sports participation has fallen for the first time on record. The number of boys playing high school sports today is lower than in any year since 2007. While travel...

23 Maj 202345min

Populärt inom Politik & nyheter

svenska-fall
aftonbladet-krim
p3-krim
rss-krimstad
flashback-forever
politiken
blenda-2
rss-sanning-konsekvens
aftonbladet-daily
spar
rss-vad-fan-hande
motiv
rss-krimreportrarna
dagens-eko
svd-ledarredaktionen
rss-frandfors-horna
olyckan-inifran
spotlight
rss-flodet
grans