How well do we know ourselves? Maybe the better question to ask is how well can we truly know ourselves? Psychologist Tim Wilson says introspection only gets us so far, and that we often make important decisions in life and love for reasons we don't even realize. But he says there are some simple ways to improve our self-knowledge.
Duration
57m
Broadcast on
08 Aug 2022
Audio Format
other
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How well do we know ourselves? Maybe the better question to ask is how well can we truly know ourselves? Psychologist Tim Wilson says introspection only gets us so far, and that we often make important decisions in life and love for reasons we don't even realize. But he says there are some simple ways to improve our self-knowledge.
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This is Hidden Brain. I'm Shankar Vedanta. From high school football coaches to career counselors, professional advice-givers often have a simple mantra. Look within. You have the answers you've been searching for. Ask yourself the important questions, and then listen to your inner voice. Such advice is especially common in countries with individualistic cultures, such as the United States. We believe our answers have to come from within because each of us is a unique individual on our own special journey. We celebrate the idea of marching to our own drummer. We disparage people who follow the herd. In recent years, however, a variety of psychological research experiments have raised serious questions about how well we know ourselves. Some of these experiments raise profound questions about how well we can know ourselves. This is the second installment of our annual series, U2.0, where we try to answer some of life's most profound questions with wisdom and compassion. Last week, we considered how we can take advantage of our capacity for rumination. This week on Hidden Brain, we ask, "Is the best path forward to look within or without?" 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 libertymutual.com. 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 Defender. Even the boldest journey starts small, with a single decision to go somewhere new.
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How well do we know ourselves? Maybe the better question to ask is how well can we truly know ourselves? Psychologist Tim Wilson says introspection only gets us so far, and that we often make important decisions in life and love for reasons we don't even realize. But he says there are some simple ways to improve our self-knowledge.
