Hidden Brain: "Sitting With Uncertainty"
Host: Shankar Vedantam
Guest: Dana Young
Release Date: September 30, 2024
Introduction: The Tiger and the Lady
The episode opens with Shankar Vedantam recounting the classic short story "The Lady or the Tiger," highlighting the theme of uncertainty and its psychological impact. This sets the stage for exploring how uncertainty shapes our behaviors, perspectives, and beliefs.
Personal Journey: Dana Young's Story
Overcoming Fear of the Unknown
Dana Young shares her transformative experience from 1999 when she moved to Philadelphia for graduate school. Initially hesitant, Dana joined an improv comedy group, overcoming her fears of uncertainty:
“It was life-changing. [...] And no, I didn't get mugged. And it was life changing.” [06:51]
Navigating Personal Crisis
In 2005, Dana's husband, Mike, was diagnosed with a brain tumor. This devastating event exposed Dana's deep discomfort with uncertainty. She describes her initial reactions—anger, frustration, and a quest for control through researching potential causes:
“I started going into these sort of conspiracy theory rabbit holes on the Internet.” [24:13]
Despite Mike's eventual passing in 2006, Dana's journey through grief highlighted her intense struggle with ambiguity and unpredictability.
The Psychology of Uncertainty
Tolerance for Ambiguity vs. Need for Closure
Dana explains the psychological traits that influence how individuals handle uncertainty:
- Tolerance for Ambiguity: Comfort with unpredictability and change, associated with creativity and openness.
- Need for Closure: Desire for clear answers and predictability, often leading to quick decision-making and reliance on heuristics.
She references Arye Kruglanski's scale, which measures an individual's preference for order and certainty:
“I don't like situations that are uncertain. I dislike questions which could be answered in many different ways.” [26:24]
Cognitive Traits and Their Impact
Need for Cognition
Dana delves into the concept of "Need for Cognition," defined as the enjoyment of thinking deeply and solving complex problems. Individuals with a high need for cognition prefer evidence-based arguments and are less swayed by emotional appeals:
“People who enjoy thinking actually are less likely to be persuaded by more emotional or heuristic kind of appeals.” [30:04]
Interplay Between Traits
She discusses how these traits interact, shaping our preferences and behaviors. For instance, a high need for cognition coupled with a high tolerance for ambiguity fosters appreciation for abstract art and complex problem-solving, while a high need for closure may lead to preference for structured environments and straightforward explanations.
Influence on Art and Aesthetics
Artistic Preferences
Dana explores how psychological traits influence aesthetic tastes. Individuals with high tolerance for ambiguity and need for cognition are more likely to appreciate abstract art and open-ended narratives:
“People who are high in tolerance for ambiguity are the ones who are most appreciative of abstract art.” [31:46]
Using the example of Renoir's realistic painting versus Picasso's abstract depiction of women with hats, Dana illustrates how these traits determine artistic preferences. She admits her personal preference:
“I really don't like the Picasso painting. I really don't.” [34:55]
Media, Politics, and Belief Systems
Media Consumption and Political Views
Dana connects her research to the current media landscape, explaining how psychological traits influence political beliefs and susceptibility to misinformation. She posits that media outlets cater to these traits, reinforcing existing beliefs and deepening societal divides.
Irony vs. Outrage in Media
Comparing Stephen Colbert's ironic satire with Rush Limbaugh's overt outrage, Dana highlights how different media styles appeal to varying psychological needs:
“Irony is a kind of humor that is created through an inversion of meaning.” [46:35]
“The nature of outrage is it identifies threats in our environment... it is highly activating.” [49:10]
Impact on Political Polarization
Dana argues that the media's alignment with these traits exacerbates political polarization by catering to audiences' psychological predispositions:
“The traits of tolerance for ambiguity and need for cognition, they do cluster on the social and cultural left, and their opposites do cluster on the social and cultural right.” [50:55]
Coping with Uncertainty: Societal Implications
Balancing Traits in Society
Dana emphasizes the importance of both high and low tolerance for ambiguity and need for cognition in a balanced society. She warns against overvaluing one trait over the other, suggesting that both are necessary for a dynamic yet stable society:
“From my vantage point, I also think about it at the system level... thinking about these two things as the yin and the yang of society.” [53:55]
Practical Takeaways: Understanding Ourselves and Others
Bridging Divides
Recognizing the underlying psychological traits can foster empathy and understanding across different worldviews. Instead of labeling others as "snowflakes" or "extremists," understanding their need for cognition or closure can lead to more constructive dialogues.
Self-Reflection
Dana encourages listeners to reflect on their own tolerance for uncertainty and need for cognition, inviting them to consider how these traits shape their preferences, beliefs, and interactions.
Conclusion: Embracing Uncertainty
Shankar Vedantam wraps up the episode by reiterating the importance of understanding our psychological responses to uncertainty. By acknowledging and embracing these traits, individuals and societies can navigate the complexities of the modern world more effectively.
Notable Quotes:
- “Fairness has nothing to do with it. It has nothing to do with fairness. It's just random. The universe is random. This is random.” – Mike [21:07]
- “People who have a high need for cognition, they tended to be the least supportive of highly punitive measures.” – Dana Young [40:24]
- “The nature of outrage is it identifies threats in our environment. It highlights them in an emotional and dramatic way.” – Dana Young [49:10]
About Dana Young:
Dana Young is a researcher at the University of Delaware, specializing in media, public opinion, and political satire. She authored "How Media, Politics and Identity Drive Our Appetite for Misinformation" and "Irony and Outrage: The Polarized Landscape of Rage, Fear, and Laughter in the United States." Her work explores how our capacity to deal with uncertainty influences our deepest beliefs and societal conflicts.
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