Hidden Brain - An Ancient Solution to Modern Problems

People in every country and culture mark important milestones, such as births, marriages and deaths, with intricately choreographed scripts. We even appeal to supernatural forces to give our favorite sports teams an extra advantage. This week on the show, anthropologist Dimitris Xygalatas explains the psychological power behind the sacred and secular rituals that structure our lives.

Duration: 58m
Broadcast on: 12 Dec 2022
Audio Format: other

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This is Hidden Brain, I am Shankar Vedanta. On the surface, people around the world lead very different lives. Some live in bustling cities, others in tiny villages. Some are part of vast intergenerational households, others live on their own. People in different countries follow a bewildering range of religious traditions, but atheism is also on the rise in many places. When anthropologists look beneath the surface however, they often find that humans around the world are very similar. They invoke supernatural forces when it looks like their sports teams might lose. They take part in annual festivals that demand time, effort, and money. They mark important moments such as marriages, births, and deaths with intricately choreographed scripts. These festivals, rites, and scripts are so much a part of all our lives that few of us stop to ask why we perform them. This week on Hidden Brain, the deep history and powerful psychology of rituals. Support for Hidden Brain comes from Air France. Air France business cabin offers comfort throughout the journey with priority check-in, boarding, and lounge access. On board, enjoy menus from renowned French chefs, wines, and champagne selected by Assamelier and free high-speed Wi-Fi, when it's time to rest, settle into a fully adjustable life-flat bed with added mattress comfort. The art of travel elevated because Air France business cabin goes further in every detail to make your journey exceptional. Support for Hidden Brain comes from Pacific Life Insurance. You make promises throughout your life. For nearly 160 years, Pacific Life has been helping you keep them by protecting those who matter most. Support Life, the power of a promise. Ask a financial professional how Pacific Life can help you create a more confident financial future. Pacific Life Insurance Company, Omaha, Nebraska, and in New York, Pacific Life and Inuity, Phoenix, Arizona. Support for Hidden Brain comes from Defender. Even the boldest journey starts small, with a single decision to go somewhere new. The Defender 110 is a vehicle built for those moments for drivers capable of great things, whether they're headed toward uncharted territory or just a weekend away. The Defender 110 combines on-road presence with off-road capability. It looks tough because it is, with an exterior engineered for durability. Inside, capability meets comfort, with seating for five and the option for seven plus refined finishes and thoughtful design. It's also packed with intuitive tech, like 3D surround cameras with clear-side ground view to help you navigate rough terrain, and the next-generation PIVI Pro infotainment system designed to keep you informed, connected, and in control, no matter the path. The Defender 110 is naturally capable, expedition ready, and built for those ready to move forward. Explore the Defender 110 at Land Rover USA dot com. Professor Apologist Demetrius Zigalata works at the University of Connecticut. His research has taken him across the planet. In his travels, Demetrius has found common cultural practices among people living in far flung places. Many of these practices involve dangerous, difficult, or expensive rituals.

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