How to Really Know Another Person
So often, we think we know what other people are thinking. But researchers have found that our attempts at reading other people go wrong more often than we realize. This week, we talk with psychologist Tessa West about what we can all do to read people more accurately.
- Duration
- 1h 2m
- Broadcast on
- 19 Sep 2022
- Audio Format
- other
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So often, we think we know what other people are thinking. But researchers have found that our attempts at reading other people go wrong more often than we realize. This week, we talk with psychologist Tessa West about what we can all do to read people more accurately.
If you like today's show, be sure to check out last week's conversation about emotions, and how they're shaped by where we live. And if you'd like to support our work, you can do so at support.hiddenbrain.org.
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This is Hidden Brain, I'm Shankar Vedantam. In the classic TV series Star Trek, Mr. Spock has a foolproof technique for accurately reading the thoughts and feelings of others. The Vulcan Mind-Melt. I am Spock. You or James Kirk, our minds, are moving closer, closer, closer, closer, James Kirk, closer. Here on Planet Earth, we have no technology that gives us direct access to the minds of others. So we look for psychological clues. We watch people's facial expressions to see how much they like us. We read their body language to figure out when they are nervous. We listen to their intonations to pick up signals about their mood. How accurate are these clues? How good are we at detecting what's going on in the minds of others? In recent years, scientists have spent a lot of time answering these questions. They've discovered that many of the clues we use to read the minds of others are suspect. But they have identified one mind-reading technique that is surprisingly effective. The only problem? Most of us don't use it. How to get inside someone else's head? This week on Hidden Brain. Support for Hidden Brain comes from Liberty Mutual Insurance. Making smart decisions includes considering how to protect your car and home and how much you're paying to ensure them. Liberty Mutual customizes your car and home insurance to save you money. Because when you've worked hard for something, choosing insurance should be easy. Start your quote at Liberty Mutual dot com. Support for Hidden Brain comes from Southern New Hampshire University. Science consistently tells us learning starts with motivation. That's why SNHU offers over 200 flexible, affordable online programs to help you get where you want to go. Take classes that spark your curiosity, shape your skill set, and prepare you for what's next. A degree can help move you forward no matter what motivates you. Start yours at SNHU dot edu slash brain. Support for Hidden Brain comes from Land Rover. Even the boldest journey starts small with a single decision to go somewhere new. Purpose-built and courage-driven, the Defender 110 combines on-road presence with off-road capability. It looks tough because it is with a raised hood and an exterior engineered for durability. Inside, capability meets comfort with seating for five and the option for seven plus refined finishes and thoughtful design. The Defender event is on now. Explore enhanced offers at Land Rover USA dot com. Navigating social life involves continually reading the minds of other people. What could be the meaning behind my colleagues' behavior? What could my daughter be thinking and feeling? What is it my parents really want? Tessa West is a psychologist at New York University.
Transcription truncated.
So often, we think we know what other people are thinking. But researchers have found that our attempts at reading other people go wrong more often than we realize. This week, we talk with psychologist Tessa West about what we can all do to read people more accurately.