The joy of rekindling friendships
"In many ways, adults have taken over children’s lives. And I think the cost of that is that it takes away from children’s own opportunities to figure things out for themselves.”
— Psychologist Peter Gray
BRAIN WAVES
Old friends. Have you thought about reaching out to an old friend lately? “We live in a time when people are more and more disconnected, and have fewer close friends than they used to in years past,” said psychologist (and Hidden Brain guest) Gillian Sandstrom. “With research finding that it takes more than 200 hours of contact to turn a new acquaintance into a close friend, we wanted to find out if and why people were overlooking another pathway to meaningful connection: reviving pre-existing close friendships." In a series of studies, Sandstrom and her colleague, Lara Aknin, found that people were really hesitant to reconnect with old friends. They thought it would be awkward to reach out, or that the other person would be too busy. But past research has found that we underestimate the power of reaching out— there’s a good chance your old friend would love to hear from you. “We hope these findings prompt other people to send that first message to someone that they miss in their lives,” said Aknin.
The good old days. What age is officially old? It seems that the answer might be changing. A new study found that the older people get, the later they think old age begins. At 64, people believed it started at 75. At 74, people said on average that old age begins at 76.8. The study looked at data from more than ten thousand people who took part in the German Aging Survey and assessed their views on old age up to eight times over 25 years. The survey asked the question, “At what age would you describe someone as old?” For every four to five years, people tend to report that old age starts a year later compared to their last check-in. Later generations also reported a later onset of old age, which might have to do with people living longer and postponing retirement. “Also, some aspects of health have improved over time, so that people of a certain age who were regarded as old in the past may no longer be considered old nowadays,” said study author Markus Wettstein.
Snack attack. We’ve all had those days when all we want is a little treat. Maybe it’s a bag of chips, an ice cream sundae or a glass of wine. But sometimes, these desires become all-consuming. So what can we do about it? Listen to learn more.
ON THE HIDDEN BRAIN PODCAST
Parents: Keep Out! If you’re a parent or a teacher, you’ve probably wondered how to balance play and safety for the kids in your care. You don’t want to put children in danger, but you also don’t want to rob them of the joy of exploration. This week, we talk with psychologist Peter Gray about how this balance has changed — for parents and children alike — and what we can do about it.
ON THE MY UNSUNG HERO PODCAST
Juleus Ghunta’s Story: Growing up, Juleus struggled to read. Then a young teacher saw his potential.
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
When you stop to look, you can always see me. If you try to touch me, you can never feel me. Although you walk towards me, I remain the same distance from you. What am I?
LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE
How can 8 + 8 = 4?
Answer: When it's a clock: 8 AM + 8 hours= 4 o'clock.
A MOMENT OF JOY
Visit a random park from around the world for 60 seconds at a time.
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.