Why are kids so optimistic?
Plus, your brain on riddles
BRAIN WAVES
Kid stuff. Kids usually seem to view the world through rose-tinted glasses, and a study backs this up. It found that young kids are indeed “hyperoptimistic,” but that outlook tends to wear off by the time they become teenagers. Why? Researchers observed kids between the ages of eight and seventeen playing a treasure‑collecting game, then analyzed how they reacted to the ups and downs of the game. Did failing help them play better next time? And how did learning from their mistakes affect their mood? Overall, the researchers found that younger children, as opposed to teenagers, tended to stay upbeat while playing the game because they barely register any negative feedback. “Whilst children learn as much as adolescents when something good happens, said author Tobias Hauser, “they tend to ignore when things are not as good as they hoped.” This might be the equivalent of sticking your fingers in your ears, but it’s a tool that may actually help young kids pursue big goals without getting discouraged. So there.
Riddle me this. Here’s a riddle for you: “In a Bangladeshi market, a small potato bag costs 5 taka, a medium potato bag costs 7 taka, and a large potato bag costs 9 taka. Yet, a single potato in that market costs 10 taka. How is that possible?” The answer is simple: the bags are empty. This is an example of a type of riddle that some call a “stumper,” that is, riddles where the solution is glaringly obvious in hindsight. In a study, researchers analyzed classic stumpers, looking at how people interpret the clues and what mental representations come to mind. Then, they compared these riddles to more standard brain teasers. They found that stumpers stump because they trigger the wrong mental image — and once that image takes hold, almost everything you think pushes you further from the answer. Our minds seem to cling to default assumptions so tightly that we often can’t see solutions sitting right in front of us. Keep that in mind for this week’s puzzle.
Ancient wisdom. For thousands of years, philosophers have come up with strategies to help us cope with life’s hardships. What can these ancient ideas — backed by modern psychology —teach us about managing disappointment and misfortune? Listen to learn more.
WHY AMERICANS CAN’T RESIST REDEMPTION STORIES
Every day, invisible stories shape how you think, without you being aware of them. They affect how you watch sports, how you talk about illness, and even how nations go to war. Psychologists call these stories master narratives. In our latest YouTube video, we explore one of the most powerful master narratives in American culture: the redemption arc. And we find out what happens when reality refuses to follow the script.
CARBON CAPTURE WAS SOLD AS A CLIMATE FIX. INSTEAD, IT BECAME AN ETHANOL EMPIRE.
Award-winning climate journalist Amy Westervelt returns with a new season of Drilled, her podcast about the deception, disinformation, and power structures keeping real climate solutions out of reach. Drilled: Carbon Cowboys looks at the tech, money, and politics behind carbon capture’s rise and how the narrative being shaped around “sustainable” fuel projects and doesn’t do a thing about climate change. Listen now.
HIDDEN BRAIN LIVE
Experience Hidden Brain Live at Stanford this Saturday, May 16. A decade of discovery, distilled into one unmissable event. Stanford alum Shankar Vedantam is bringing his signature science and storytelling to the stage to share the insights that have captivated millions—and might just change how you see yourself.
ON THE HIDDEN BRAIN PODCAST
The Cowboy Philosopher: In 2009, an old man died in a California nursing home. His obituary included not just his given name, but a long list of the pseudonyms he’d been known to use. In this classic 2019 episode, we trace the life of Riley Shepard, a hillbilly musician, writer, small-time con man and, perhaps, a genius. Then, on Your Questions Answered, psychologist Leslie John returns to answer your questions about when to share a secret, and when to keep it to yourself.
ON THE MY UNSUNG HERO PODCAST
Pat Gentile’s Story: After chemotherapy left Pat without hair, she relied on a wig to feel like herself. The first day she went without it, a stranger in a convenience store gave her a compliment that Pat still carries with her.
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 big brown cow is lying down in the middle of a country road. The streetlights are not on, the moon is not out, and the skies are heavily clouded. A truck is driving towards the cow at full speed, its headlights off. Yet the driver sees the cow from afar easily, and avoids hitting it, without even having to brake hard. How is that possible?
LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE
Two people have $100 in total. One has $40 more than the other. How much does each have?
The answer: $30 and $70
IS HIDDEN BRAIN YOUR DREAM JOB?
Are you a writer, editor, or fact-checker with deep experience covering the social sciences? Do you read academic journals for fun? Do you enjoy explaining complex or arcane topics to a general-interest audience? If so, we’d be interested in hearing from you. Please send your resume and three writing and/or editing samples to Executive Producer Tara Boyle via email to jobs@hiddenbrain.org.
MOMENT OF JOY
Live laugh love? Not for this guy.
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.