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Have you ever downplayed some aspect of your identity? Maybe you don’t hide it, but you don’t bring it up with certain people, either. It turns out that these subtle disguises can have powerful effects on how we view ourselves. This week, we bring you a favorite conversation with legal scholar Kenji Yoshino. He introduces us to the concept of "covering," and talks about what happens when we soften or edit our true selves. Then, we revisit our "Your Questions Answered" segment in which Kenji answers listener questions and comments about his work.  Another way that we hide who we are is by expressing views that we don't actually believe. In our latest YouTube video, we look at this phenomenon — known as preference falsification — and how it can affect our relationships. Check it out, and make sure to subscribe so you don't miss any of our future videos.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Most of us have ideas about what we’re looking for in a romantic partner. But psychologist Paul Eastwick says these preferences are surprisingly poor guides for finding love. He explains why attraction is so difficult to predict, and what the research suggests is the best way to meet someone with whom you'll connect. Then, in a new installment of “Your Questions Answered,” psychologist Ed Lemay responds to your questions about how we project our own thoughts and feelings onto other people, and how these projections shape our relationships. In our companion conversation for Hidden Brain+ subscribers, we talk with Paul Eastwick about online dating apps. He says apps can powerfully shape our experience of meeting potential romantic partners — often not for the better. If you're a subscriber, that episode is called “The Online Dating Trap.” If you're not yet a subscriber, you can listen to that conversation with a free seven-day trial to Hidden Brain+ by going to support.hiddenbrain.org. If you use an Apple device, you can subscribe via Apple Podcasts at apple.co/hidden brain.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this conversation for Hidden Brain+ subscribers, psychologist Paul Eastwick explores how dating apps can distort the way we search for love. Plus, he offers ways to approach online dating that leave more room for attraction to grow. This episode is a companion to the episode "How Love Really Works." We recommend you start with that conversation, which you can find on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, hiddenbrain.org, or your preferred podcast app.

Why is my friend late? How does nuclear fission work? What can I do to help my baby sleep through the night? We all feel the need to understand why certain things happen. Some researchers think the drive to explain the world is a basic human impulse, similar to thirst or hunger. This week on Hidden Brain, psychologist Tania Lombrozo discusses how explanations can lead to discovery, delight, and disaster. Then, Jonathan Rottenberg answers your questions about rethinking depression on Your Questions Answered. What are the mistakes most of us make when we try to resist a craving? We talk about that in our latest YouTube video. Check it out, and leave a comment letting us know what you think of the techniques we discuss for grappling with temptations.    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Millions of us move through our days without getting enough sleep. We know that sleep deprivation can affect our physical health and our mood. But sleep researcher Chris Barnes says a chronic lack of good sleep can also affect how we make decisions and even what we value. He joins us to explore the forces that keep us from getting the rest we need, and offers practical strategies for getting better sleep. Later, psychologist Rachel Zoffness returns to answer your questions about the experience of pain, in our latest installment of "Your Questions Answered."  Is your parenting style preventing your child from thriving? We explore this question — and share five practical parenting strategies we've featured on Hidden Brain — in our latest YouTube video. Check it out here, and share your parenting strategies with us in the comments!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When leaders don't get enough sleep, the consequences can be serious, both for them and for their colleagues. Sleep researcher Chris Barnes says exhausted leaders can become less charismatic and more prone to abusive behavior. In this conversation for Hidden Brain+ subscribers, he shares his research on how poor sleep can undermine the performance of an entire team. This episode is a companion to "Do You Have Trouble Sleeping?" We recommend listening to that conversation before you turn to this one. You can find that episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at hiddenbrain.org.

We often imagine that feelings of unhappiness come from outside us — in our circumstances or the difficult people in our lives. But what if the forces that erode our happiness come from within? Psychologist George Loewenstein joins us to explore why our minds nudge us toward the negative, even when we want to feel happy. He also offers ways to better understand these forces and lessen their power over us. And on Your Questions Answered, psychologist Alison Ledgerwood returns to respond to your questions about our tendency to focus on the negative.  What if your emotions aren't reactions to the world, but predictions that your brain is making? We discuss this mind-bending idea on our YouTube channel. Check it out, and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss any of our upcoming videos!  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When historian Kate Bowler was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer, she became fascinated by the ways people try to impose order on events they can't control. She joins us to explore what it means to live fully when life offers no satisfying explanation for the tragedies we may face. Then, in the latest installment of "Your Questions Answered," psychologist Lisa Miller returns to answer listener questions about the relationship between science and spirituality.  In our companion conversation for subscribers to Hidden Brain Plus, we take a deep dive into the origins and surprising spread of the prosperity gospel that Kate has studied. If you're a subscriber, that episode is called “The Gospel of Success.” If you're not yet a subscriber, you can access a free seven-day trial at support.hiddenbrain.org or apple.co/hiddenbrain. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Historian Kate Bowler was in her late teens when she first became aware of a church in her community that embraced what's known as the "prosperity gospel." In this conversation for Hidden Brain+ subscribers, Kate takes us on a deep dive into the origins and surprising spread of the religious notion that we all get what we deserve. This episode is a companion to the episode titled "When Bad Things Happen to Good People." We recommend you listen to that episode first. You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at hiddenbrain.org.

Think about the last time you had a discouraging thought. Maybe you told yourself, "This won't work. I'm not cut out for this." Did you take that thought as fact? Last week, we talked with psychologist Martin Seligman about why some people come to believe that their actions don’t matter. In the second part of our conversation, he explains how we can strengthen our sense of agency, learn to see new possibilities, and build confidence in our ability to shape what happens next. Anyone who has struggled with depression knows that it feels terrible. But is there a point to that terrible feeling? We consider a new way of thinking about depression in our latest YouTube video -- check it out, and be sure to subscribe so you don't miss our future videos.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Why do some people act on the possibilities before them, while others come to believe that nothing they do will make a difference? Psychologist Martin Seligman describes his groundbreaking research on learned helplessness, and explains how the stories we tell ourselves about setbacks can shape what we do next. We also explore how optimism can help us rediscover our ability to change things for the better. If you have a question or comment about the science of optimism and pessimism that you'd be willing to share with the Hidden Brain audience after listening to this episode, please find a quiet room and record a voice memo on your phone. Email the file to us at [email protected]. Use the subject line: “How to Make a Difference.”  If you love Hidden Brain in audio, check out our video series on YouTube. You'll find episodes there about memory, focus, getting unstuck, and much more at youtube.com/@hiddenbrain.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Many of us approach life by setting a big goal and working hard to reach it. Neuroscientist Anne-Laure Le Cunff explains why this sort of linear goal-setting can cause us to skip an important phase of exploration. In this conversation for Hidden Brain+ subscribers, she offers a different approach: using “tiny experiments” to learn what actually works for us. Not yet subscribed to Hidden Brain+? Try it for free for seven days! You can sign up at support.hiddenbrain.org or apple.co/hiddenbrain. Your subscription helps to fund the research, writing, and sound design that go into every episode of the show. We greatly appreciate your support.

Do you ever struggle to communicate with your mom? Or feel like you and your spouse sometimes speak different languages? This week, we revisit a favorite conversation with linguist Deborah Tannen. She shows how our conversational styles can cause unintended conflicts, and what we can do to communicate more effectively with the people in our lives. Then, in an all-new installment of "Your Questions Answered," Emma Levine responds to your questions and stories about the psychology of lying.  What should you do when you achieve a big goal, but it doesn't bring the satisfaction or happiness you thought it would? Check out our latest YouTube video for ideas about getting out of this sort of rut. And make sure to subscribe so you don't miss any of Shankar's upcoming videos.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Have you ever had a flash of insight that hit you when you least expected it? How did it change your life? Psychologist Anthony Klotz studies the "jolts" that shake us out of our routines, and how these moments can help us make more intentional decisions about the people we want to become. Then, psychologist Ap Dijksterhuis returns to the show to answer your questions about a very specific kind of jolt: creative breakthroughs. What are the signs that it might be time to leave your job? In a bonus conversation for Hidden Brain+ subscribers, Anthony Klotz talks with us about when it makes sense to quit, and why so many people who do quit regret not doing so sooner. If you're not yet a Hidden Brain+ subscriber, you can access a free seven-day trial at support.hiddenbrain.org or apple.co/hidden brain.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How do you know when it's time to leave a job? In this episode for Hidden Brain+ subscribers, psychologist Anthony Klotz explores one of the hardest decisions we face at work. He explains how to recognize the signs that a job is no longer aligned with your goals, and how to resign in ways that reduce regret and keep doors open for the future. This conversation is a companion to the episode "Blowing Up Your Life." We suggest starting with that episode before listening to this one. You can find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at hiddenbrain.org.