“Our mental architecture plays a really big role in the way that we entertain religious beliefs and practices.” — Ara Norenzayan
BRAIN WAVES
Psst. Keeping a secret can be a burden... but maybe it depends on the secret. New research suggests that positive secrets have the opposite effect: they make us feel excited to keep them. In one study, researchers had people reflect on some good news in their lives, like a job promotion or winning an award. For some folks, this good news was a secret, and for some, it was not. After reflecting, people were then surveyed about how happy and energized they felt. Those who reflected on secret good news had significantly higher feelings of energy than people with non-secret good news. The study added: “We further found that positive secrets are energizing because, compared to other kinds of secrets, people keep them for more intrinsically than extrinsically motivated reasons.” In other words, if you’re keeping your big promotion a secret, you’re probably doing so because you’re waiting for the right time to share it — not because someone has asked you to keep it quiet. Here’s more on the secret life of secrets.
The giving tree. We know there are benefits to the great outdoors, and even small reminders of nature can make us feel good. For example, a new study found that simply looking at trees can boost mental health. Researchers asked people to take a 45-minute walk outside, then tracked their eye movements with special glasses. Then they asked the volunteers to take a survey that measured well-being and anxiety. “We found that the individuals who were guided to direct their gaze more frequently at green elements reported a significant reduction in anxiety, with trees showing the most substantial positive effect,” said co-author Wendy Fleming.
Meh. Have you ever had an unexplainable feeling of emptiness? Your life seems perfect — yet something is missing. Where do these feelings come from, and how can we remedy them? Listen to learn more.
ON THE HIDDEN BRAIN PODCAST
Our God-Shaped Brains: Psychologists have long speculated about how our religious and spiritual beliefs shape — and are shaped by — the human mind. This week, psychologist Ara Norenzayan explores features in the brain that are intimately tied to our capacity for faith. He helps us understand how all of us, both religious and non-religious people, can use this knowledge to find more meaning in our lives.
ON THE MY UNSUNG HERO PODCAST
Karen Muller’s Story: Karen felt overwhelmed at the prospect of clearing out her parents’ old belongings. Then someone stepped in to help.
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.
HIDDEN BRAIN+ IS EXPANDING!
We’re excited to share that Hidden Brain+ is now available across devices and platforms. Hidden Brain+ is the place where our biggest fans can find new episodes of the show that aren’t available anywhere else. These episodes include brand-new topics, along with segments where we pose your questions to our most popular guests.
There are now two ways to join Hidden Brain+. The first is to sign up via our Patreon page at support.hiddenbrain.org. From there, you can listen on Patreon or on the podcast player of your choice. Another option if you’re an iPhone or iPad user is to sign up on Apple Podcasts. To do so, find Hidden Brain on that app and click the “try free” button, or visit apple.co/hiddenbrain. Your podcast subscription helps us to make new episodes of the show, and we greatly appreciate your support!
MIND GAMES
If you multiply this number by any other number, the answer will always be the same. What number is this?
LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE
Is it correct to say "The yolk of eggs is white" or "The yolk of eggs are white"?
Answer: Neither. The yolks of eggs are yellow.
A MOMENT OF JOY
Don’t miss the strawberry moon
Have an idea for Hidden Brain? A story you want to share with us? Send an email to ideas@hiddenbrain.org. Listen to us on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music or your favorite podcast platform.