The Cognitive Dissonance Crisis | Sarah Stein Lubrano

What do W.E.I.R.D countries have in common?

Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich, Democratic. The citizens of these countries exhibit markedly more extreme psychological characteristics than those of non-WEIRD nations. One of the weirdest characteristics is a belief in a fixed “self’ which will behave in a reliable and predictable manner no matter the environment. The belief in this unchanging self is what makes it very difficult for us to change our minds—and even concoct wild rationalisations to justify our behaviour. Welcome to the age of cognitive dissonance.

Sarah Stein Lubrano, a researcher at Oxford University, joins me to explain the cognitive dissonance phenomenon, its roots in the alleged security granted to us by a fixed sense of self, and why it’s so hard to change our beliefs. She then reveals what neurophilosophy tells us about how to help others change our minds, the power of storytelling, and the importance of social infrastructure for creating cohesive, fluid and non-judgemental communities. It is these brave communities which dare examine themselves, their beliefs about the world—and change their maladaptive behaviours. This is an episode about how to dare change our minds.

00:00 Teaser
00:59 Intro
01:33 Guest Introduction: Sarah Stein Lubrano
03:58 Why is the world in crisis?
06:00 Understanding Cognitive Dissonance
10:02 The Impact of Psychedelics on Perception of Self
13:08 The Concept of Self in Different Cultures
24:26 The Role of Self in the Fear of Death
30:43 The Paradox of Self in Western Culture
34:10 The Power of Embodiment in Activism
39:00 The Challenge of Contradictions in Our Actions
43:41 The Limitations of Debate in Changing Minds
52:11 The Power of Deep Canvassing in Changing Views
01:01:07 Conclusion

🔴 Sarah's website: https://www.sarahsteinlubrano.com/

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