Your brain is biased by default. Here’s how to reset it. | David Eagleman

Summary

Neuroscientist David Eagleman explores how our limited experiences shape our reality, emphasizing the human tendency to form ingroups and outgroups. He discusses 'perceptual genomics,' the impact of genetics on perception, and the brain's reduced empathy for outgroup members. Eagleman suggests strategies to expand our perspectives, including recognizing biases, understanding dehumanization tactics, and entangling group memberships to foster deeper connections and a richer understanding of diverse human experiences.

Takeaways

• 🌐 Our perception of reality is limited by our personal experiences and cultural backgrounds, which shape our internal model of the world.
• 🧠 The human brain is highly adaptable, influenced by genetics and environmental factors, leading to diverse perceptions of reality among individuals.
• 🔬 David Eagleman introduces 'perceptual genomics', a field that explores how genetic variations affect our perception of the world.
• 👁‍🗨 People have different internal visualizations, which can range from vivid mental movies to abstract concepts, influenced by genetics and life experiences.
• 🤝 Our brains naturally form ingroups and outgroups, with a tendency to trust and care more for ingroup members and less for outgroups.
• 🧪 Eagleman's experiment with brain scans showed that people have less empathy for outgroup members, as indicated by reduced brain activity in pain-related areas.
• 🌱 Expanding our internal model, such as through travel or learning, can help broaden our ingroups and foster a more inclusive perspective.
• 🎭 Recognizing our biases is the first step towards expanding our narrow models and understanding different viewpoints.
• 🛡 Learning about dehumanization tactics can help us become immune to them, allowing us to build a richer understanding of others.
• 🌟 Entangling group memberships and finding common ground can improve communication and foster deeper connections across differences.

Q & A

Why do humans tend to accept their own reality as the uncontested truth?

Humans naturally accept their reality as truth because their experiences are limited to their personal journey through life. This creates a narrow perspective, as we construct our understanding of the world based on our specific experiences, which we assume to be true.

How does our limited trajectory of experience shape our view of the world?

Our experiences are influenced by where we are born, the culture we're exposed to, and the people around us. Since each person's experiences are different, our views of the world are inherently limited and shaped by a narrow slice of reality.

What role does science, literature, and philosophy play in expanding our understanding of the world?

Science, literature, and philosophy allow us to step outside of our limited personal experiences and understand that other perspectives and truths exist. These fields help us recognize that our reality is not the only one, which broadens our view and can help us build a better society.

How does the flexibility of the human brain impact our perception of reality?

The human brain is highly flexible because it is shaped not only by genetics but also by life experiences. As we absorb information from our environment and culture, our brain adapts and wires itself in unique ways, leading each person to perceive the world differently.

What is 'perceptual genomics' and why is it significant?

'Perceptual genomics' is the study of how slight variations in our genetic makeup influence our perception of reality. It aims to understand how different genes affect the way each individual sees and experiences the world.

Why do humans form ingroups and outgroups, and what evolutionary basis might this have?

Humans are predisposed to form ingroups and outgroups based on trust and familiarity. This likely has an evolutionary basis, as early humans lived in small tribes and needed to identify who was part of their group for survival. Outsiders were often viewed with suspicion or hostility.

How does empathy differ when we interact with members of our ingroup versus our outgroup?

Humans tend to show more empathy toward members of their ingroup than those in the outgroup. In studies, brain activity linked to empathy and pain is greater when ingroup members are harmed compared to outgroup members.

What did the experiment involving hands and different religious labels reveal about ingroups and empathy?

The experiment showed that people exhibit less brain activity related to pain when a person from an outgroup is harmed, compared to someone from their ingroup. This suggests that our brains care less about the suffering of outgroup members.

How does expanding our internal model of the world influence our perception of outgroups?

As people travel and expose themselves to other cultures and perspectives, their internal model of the world expands. This can reduce the perception of certain groups as foreign or unfamiliar, making it easier to empathize with those previously considered part of an outgroup.

What strategies can help reduce biases and improve communication across groups?

Three strategies are suggested: 1) Recognizing and blinding biases, like auditioning musicians behind a screen to avoid appearance-based judgment; 2) Understanding tactics of dehumanization, like moral pollution, to avoid falling into these traps; and 3) Complexifying group membership by finding commonalities across different identities to build deeper bonds.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Challenging Our Perception of Reality

In this segment, the speaker questions why people accept their personal experiences as the absolute truth, highlighting that each person's view of the world is shaped by a limited set of experiences. David Eagleman, a neuroscientist at Stanford, explains that while we are all constrained by our internal models, science, literature, and philosophy enable us to step outside of ourselves and recognize that our view of the world is not the only truth. By acknowledging our limited perspectives, we can work toward building a better, more inclusive society. He introduces the concept of 'perceptual genomics,' a field that explores how slight genetic differences influence how individuals perceive reality, such as how vividly they can imagine visual scenes.

05:01

👥 Ingroups, Outgroups, and Human Bias

The speaker discusses how human brains are hardwired to form ingroups and outgroups, a behavior likely rooted in evolutionary survival. Our brains are predisposed to trust and care for those in our ingroups, such as people who share our nationality, religion, or interests, while showing less empathy toward outgroup members. This bias is demonstrated through an experiment where participants showed a stronger brain response to the pain of someone in their ingroup versus an outgroup. Eagleman explains that this is not an indictment of any specific belief system but rather a psychological tendency present in all humans. He notes that during conflicts, people often dehumanize members of opposing groups, making it easier to disregard their suffering.

🌍 Expanding Our Internal Models and Reducing Bias

In this section, Eagleman emphasizes the importance of expanding our internal models by exposing ourselves to different cultures and perspectives. Traveling can help break down the biases we hold toward foreign groups, but for those who haven't traveled, it's essential to first recognize the limitations of their worldview. He discusses strategies for overcoming biases, such as using methods like blind auditions to prevent gender or racial bias in decision-making. Another tactic is understanding and resisting techniques of dehumanization, like 'moral pollution,' where outgroups are associated with negative traits, leading to less engagement with their viewpoints. By learning these tactics, we can become more open and empathetic toward others.

🤝 Creating Connections and Building Deeper Bonds

Here, the speaker explores the concept of complexifying group membership to foster better communication across different perspectives. Eagleman suggests that by finding common ground with others, such as shared hobbies or interests, people can form strong bonds even before discovering potential disagreements. When disagreements do arise, these pre-established connections make it easier to engage in constructive dialogue and seek to understand differing viewpoints. This process allows individuals to see others as humans with unique experiences, rather than simply as members of opposing groups. He concludes by stressing the importance of deeper bonds to promote empathy and understanding, which are essential for building a more harmonious and cooperative future.

Keywords

💡Reality

Reality, in the context of the video, refers to the perceived truth or the world as we understand it based on our personal experiences and perspectives. The video challenges the notion of accepting one's reality as the only truth, emphasizing that our individual experiences are limited and can significantly shape our understanding of the world. An example from the script is the idea that our brains are 'wired up' by our experiences, which can vary greatly from one person to another, leading to different perceptions of reality.

💡Internal Model

The internal model mentioned in the video is the mental construct that each person develops to interpret and understand the world around them. It is shaped by genetics, culture, and personal experiences. The video suggests that we are confined to our internal models, which may not always align with the objective reality. This concept is central to the discussion on empathy and bias, as it influences how we perceive and interact with others.

💡Perceptual Genomics

Perceptual Genomics is a term introduced in the video to describe the study of how genetic variations can lead to different perceptions of reality. It is a novel field that aims to understand the subtle genetic differences that might affect how individuals visualize or conceptualize their experiences. The video uses this concept to illustrate that even something as fundamental as visualizing an image can vary greatly among individuals due to genetic factors.

💡Ingroup and Outgroup

Ingroup and outgroup are psychological concepts discussed in the video to explain how humans tend to form social groups and identify with those who share similar characteristics or beliefs. The video explains that people tend to have stronger emotional connections and empathy towards their ingroup and are more likely to be biased against outgroup members. This is illustrated in the script through the experiment where participants show less empathy for outgroup members experiencing pain.

💡Empathy

Empathy, as discussed in the video, refers to the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. The video highlights how empathy can be influenced by whether someone is part of our ingroup or outgroup. It is used to explain the varying levels of concern for others based on their perceived social group membership, as demonstrated in the brain scanner experiment where empathy is shown to be reduced for outgroup members.

💡Bias

Bias, in the context of the video, refers to the inclination or prejudice for or against one person or group, especially in a way that is unfair. The video discusses how biases are inherent in human cognition and can be influenced by various factors, including our internal models and social groupings. It also suggests strategies to recognize and mitigate these biases to foster a more inclusive and understanding society.

💡Dehumanization

Dehumanization is the act of depriving a person or group of their humanity, which the video discusses as a tactic used to justify discrimination or violence. It is a concept that is used to explain how people can be led to view outgroup members as less than human, thereby reducing empathy and compassion. The video provides an example of 'moral pollution,' where associating outgroup members with repulsive concepts can lead to dehumanization.

💡Auditions Behind a Screen

This phrase refers to a practice in orchestra auditions where musicians perform behind a screen to prevent judges from seeing them, thus reducing the potential for bias based on appearance. The video uses this example to illustrate how 'blinding' biases can lead to more objective decision-making. It is presented as a strategy for mitigating unconscious bias in various aspects of life.

💡Moral Pollution

Moral pollution is a concept introduced in the video to describe the process of associating outgroup members with something repulsive or morally reprehensible. This tactic is used to discredit or devalue the opinions of others by linking them to negative connotations. The video explains how understanding such tactics can help individuals resist dehumanizing influences and maintain a more objective perspective.

💡Entangling Group Membership

Entangling group membership, as discussed in the video, is a strategy for fostering connections and empathy between individuals from different groups. It involves finding common ground or shared interests that can help to humanize others and reduce the impact of ingroup/outgroup biases. The video suggests that by discovering shared affiliations, people can form bonds that transcend superficial differences and promote understanding.

💡Fence Lines

Fence lines, in the context of the video, metaphorically represent the boundaries or limitations of our understanding and perception. The video encourages recognizing these limitations as a first step towards expanding our internal models and becoming more open to different perspectives. It is used to emphasize the importance of self-awareness in overcoming biases and embracing a more inclusive worldview.

Highlights

Our reality is often accepted as the only truth due to our limited personal experiences.

Human experiences are constrained by our birthplace and life trajectory, leading to a narrow view of the world.

Science, literature, and philosophy help us understand that our perspective is not the only one.

The human brain is highly adaptable, shaped by genetics and experiences, which vary greatly across individuals.

The concept of 'perceptual genomics' aims to explore how genetic differences affect our perception of reality.

People have different internal visualizations, such as picturing an ant on a tablecloth, influenced by genetics and life experiences.

Our brains naturally form ingroups and outgroups, influencing our trust and care for those within our group.

Empathy levels differ based on whether someone is in our ingroup or outgroup, as demonstrated by brain scans during an experiment.

Conflicts often arise when people dehumanize those in outgroups, not viewing them as fully human.

Traveling and experiencing different cultures can expand our internal models and ingroups.

Recognizing our biases is the first step to expanding our narrow models of reality.

Blinding biases, like in orchestra auditions, can help make decisions more objective.

Learning about dehumanization tactics can make us more immune to their effects.

Entangling group membership and finding common ground can improve communication and understanding across differences.

Building deeper bonds with others helps us see them as fellow humans, fostering a more beneficial and fruitful interaction.

Transcripts

- Why do we accept our reality as the uncontested truth?

You are a data collection machine

that moves through the world and you vacuum up

your little bits of experience that you have,

and in the end, whatever you have,

that's what you assume to be true.

But our experiences are limited.

We're born on a particular spot on the planet,

and we have a thin, little trajectory of experience,

and we construct

what we believe the world is made up of from there.

And as a result, we all have a very limited view

of what's going on out there.

The interesting thing about being a human is

that we're stuck inside our internal model-

it's all we ever see.

But with the endeavor of science and literature

and philosophy, what we're able to do is

step outside of ourselves and understand,

"Hey, the way that I see the world

isn't the only way to see the world.

It's not the only truth."

And the more we can get good at that,

the more we can try to build a better society.

My name's David Eagleman.

I'm a neuroscientist at Stanford,

and I run the podcast "Inner Cosmos."

The interesting thing about the human brain in particular is

that we drop into the world half-baked

with a certain set of genetics,

and then experience wires up our brains.

And what that means is our brains are extremely flexible.

So whatever moment in time you're born in,

whatever culture you're born in,

whatever deities your culture believes in,

whoever your parents are, your neighborhood, so on,

you absorb all that and that crafts who you become.

Now as a result of the genetics being different,

your brain wires up in slightly different ways.

My interest in searching out the genetics here is

to define a new field called 'perceptual genomics,'

which is understanding how slight tweaks in your genome

and yours and yours leads to us seeing the world

in a different way.

In other words, how do the genes that you come to the table

with change your perception of reality?

For example, how clearly you visualize

something on the inside:

if I ask you to picture an ant

crawling on a red and white tablecloth

towards a jar of purple jelly.

You might perceive that as a movie in your head,

or you might perceive it without any picture at all,

but just sort of the concept of it.

People have completely different internal lives.

Your genetics and life experiences

might be different from mine,

which makes our models somewhat different from each other-

and that's true for all 8 billion of us.

So our brains are very predisposed

to form ingroups and outgroups.

We form the psychological thing of trusting our ingroup

and caring about our ingroup,

and not so much about the outgroup.

Presumably, this has an evolutionary basis

because we grew up in small tribes

and you knew who your folks were in your tribe,

but that other group across the hill,

you have no idea who they are;

you don't know if they're enemies.

And so, we constantly form the groups that we belong to,

whether that's predicated on our country or our religion

or our favorite sports team.

We care more about the people who agree with us,

and we're very suspicious of the people

who are in the outgroups.

One of the amazing parts about human brains

is our sense of empathy.

Well, it turns out that when you're dealing with somebody

in your outgroup, you have less empathy.

You just don't care about them as much.

In my lab, some years ago, we did an experiment

where we put people in the brain scanner.

They see six hands on the screen,

and the computer goes around, boop, boop, boop, boop, boop,

and randomly picks one of the hands,

and then the hand either gets touched with a Q-tip

or it gets stabbed with a syringe needle.

And when it gets stabbed, these networks in your brain

that are involved in pain come online.

But now what we did, is we labeled each hand

with a one word label: Christian, Jewish, Muslim,

Hindu, Scientologist, Atheist.

And now the question is: Does your brain care

as much if it's a member of your outgroup?

And the answer is: Your brain does not care as much.

If your ingroup member gets stabbed,

you have a big response in this area, this pain matrix.

If an outgroup member gets stabbed,

you have a smaller response.

This is true across all groups that we measured.

This isn't an indictment of religion.

It's just about who's in your ingroup

and who's in your outgroups in this case.

When you look at any conflict in the world,

and you have two sides that hate each other,

when they're looking at the other side,

they don't think of them like a human, like a person.

They think of them like an object,

and therefore the medial prefrontal cortex and other areas

don't even come online when considering them.

So the internal model that you form growing up in your life,

that's what determines who's in your ingroup

and who's in your outgroup.

And obviously we see

what happens once people start traveling

and going around the world.

They expand their internal model,

they expand their ingroups greatly.

But it's very easy if you haven't been

to every country in the world, which most of us have not,

to still feel like, "Oh, that group, that culture, whatever,

is totally foreign to me."

The first step to expanding our narrow models

is to recognize that there are fence lines

and that there are things we're not seeing.

So the first thing is to understand our own biases

because we can't help but have biases.

And the question is:

Is there something that we can do

given that situation?

Many people are familiar with the way

that orchestras many years ago,

started having their auditions behind a screen

so that they wouldn't be biased,

male, female, white, Black, whatever-

all they're is the music pouring over the screen,

and they make their decision about

who's the best orchestra player that way.

There are many ways that you can blind your biases.

The second strategy is learning about the tactics

of dehumanization so that you can be more immune to them.

For example, there's what's called 'moral pollution,'

where you associate members of your outgroup

with something repulsive.

Whatever's coming outta their mouth now,

everyone is a little less eager to hear that

because that group has already been smeared.

And as we learn about these tactics,

we can be immune to them.

Once we do that, that gives us the opportunity

to build a richer model of the other person.

The third strategy is entangling group membership

or complexifying your allegiances.

If I meet you and I learn that you like surfing

and I like surfing, and you like this kind of dog,

and I like that kind of dog,

and we find all these things about one another

that we have in common, that's the stuff

that allows people to bond.

And only later something comes out

where we realize we have a disagreement,

and then I say, "Wow, that's interesting.

I wouldn't have expected that. Tell me about that.

Let me understand that a little bit better,

because we're already bonded based on other pieces."

So this is a way of making sure

that we can improve communication across these gaps

between each brain and every other brain.

It's a way of making sure that we understand

that everyone's not experiencing reality the same way

on the inside.

And what you need are deeper bonds

that hold people together,

so that you understand other people

as fellow humans in a way that's more fruitful

and beneficial for our future.