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.