Hidden Brain

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A counterintuitive way to achieve difficult goals
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A counterintuitive way to achieve difficult goals

Plus, the side effects of after-hours email

Jan 19
Share this post
A counterintuitive way to achieve difficult goals
news.hiddenbrain.org

“I worked undercover to learn what they had learned were the most powerful influences.” – psychologist Robert Cialdini

BRAIN WAVES

  • Goal pursuit. Struggling to keep your New Year’s resolutions? It might help to remember that the struggle is real. In a series of experiments, researchers had people take on various goals, like learning a new language. Some folks were led to believe it would be easy (“Learning a new language can be an easy process for many people”), while others were told the goal was tough (“Learning a new language can be a difficult process for many people”). Turns out, people were better able to achieve goals, like learning a new language, when they were primed with the idea that the goal might be difficult. This “effectively frames the struggle as part of the goal pursuit process rather than a personal deficiency, increasing the belief that one can reach their goal,” the researchers concluded. It seems counterintuitive, but normalizing the idea that goals are tough might make them easier to achieve.

  • You’ve got mail, unfortunately. Excessively checking work email doesn’t sound healthy, but this habit might be even worse for you than you think. A 2019 study found that checking email outside of work hours was linked to a handful of health consequences, along with anxiety and even relationship issues. The researchers suggest that we can offset these negative effects by setting better boundaries between our work and personal lives. Easier said than done, but one step might be to give up on Inbox Zero.

  • Gripes and grumbles. We often look down on people who complain a lot. Yet when something goes wrong in our own lives, many of us go straight to griping, grumbling and kvetching. We all complain, but there are ways to complain more effectively. Listen to learn more.

ON THE HIDDEN BRAIN PODCAST

Jan 16: Why are some people so good at getting other people to do what they want? Psychologist Bob Cialdini was fascinated by this question -- so fascinated that he went undercover, working as a salesman to understand how persuasive people work their magic. This week, we learn what he discovered as we bring you part one of a two-part mini-series on the science of influence.

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify

ON THE MY UNSUNG HERO PODCAST

Jan 17: When her car broke down, Sabrina wondered how she’d get her daughter to daycare – and how she’d pay for the repairs. A crew of car mechanics saved the day.

Listen on Apple

Listen on Spotify

Don’t forget to send us the story of your unsung hero! Record a voice memo on your phone and email it to myunsunghero@hiddenbrain.org.

MIND GAMES

A farmer wants to cross a river and bring with him a wolf, a goat, and a head of cabbage. He has a boat, but it will only fit himself plus either the wolf, the goat, or the cabbage. If the wolf and the goat are alone on one shore, the wolf will eat the goat. If the goat and the cabbage are alone on the shore, the goat will eat the cabbage. How can the farmer bring the wolf, the goat, and the cabbage across the river without anything being eaten?

LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE

Sam's mother has four children:

April, May, June, and ...

What is the name of the fourth child?

The answer: Sam

FROM THE TWITTERATI…

Twitter avatar for @harshdevagiri
Harsh Devagiri @harshdevagiri
You can never reason a person out of a position he wasn't reasoned into the first place - one of my favorite episodes on @HiddenBrain
Twitter avatar for @HiddenBrain
Hidden Brain @HiddenBrain
Influencers aren’t limited to TikTok creators and Instagram personalities. We all influence each other in ways small and profound. This week, we talk with @RobertCialdini about how we’re swayed, and the techniques we can use to influence others. https://t.co/lLVLhAoNzT
3:50 PM ∙ Jan 18, 2023
Twitter avatar for @LetGrowOrg
Let Grow @LetGrowOrg
We can't wait to listen to this!!!
Twitter avatar for @HiddenBrain
Hidden Brain @HiddenBrain
"It was just the idea that someone saw me, was willing to acknowledge that there was some grief inside me that was unresolved." @toddkashdan recalls the classmate in middle school who stepped up to offer support when no one else would. https://t.co/69yHjyqPU1
6:23 PM ∙ Jan 13, 2023
Twitter avatar for @melatinungsari
Melati 👩🏾‍🏫🌊🌺📊🔮 @melatinungsari
Absolutely loved this episode. How has micro behavior - deciding who to marry, for example - affected macro outcomes like wealth distribution? It touched a lot of marriage markets and matching theory - which I did my PhD on. Always great to hear from @JacksonmMatt as well https://t.co/PyexBg9mwS
Twitter avatar for @HiddenBrain
Hidden Brain @HiddenBrain
We like to think that with enough hard work, anyone can get ahead. But is that always true? This week, the surprising link between friendships and upward mobility. (2/2) Listen + follow: https://t.co/FIQKyylPVH
6:50 AM ∙ Jan 16, 2023
4Likes3Retweets

A MOMENT OF JOY

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Have an idea for Hidden Brain? A story you want to share with us? Send an email to ideas@hiddenbrain.org. And if you’d like to support our work, you can do so here. Listen to us on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music or your favorite podcast platform.

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