Are Your Coping Mechanisms Healthy? | Andrew Miki | TED

Summary

The speaker, a psychologist with a background in animal cognition, draws a parallel between teaching pigeons to count through learned behaviors and human mental health. He discusses how we develop coping mechanisms that can backfire, leading to anxiety and depression. Using the analogy of a pigeon's learned counting, he emphasizes the importance of recognizing and unlearning these patterns to improve mental health. The speaker also shares insights on building self-confidence in his daughter and the potential pitfalls of relying on smartphones as a coping mechanism, encouraging open dialogue about mental health to foster awareness and change.

Takeaways

• 🧠 The connection between a pigeon's counting ability and human mental health lies in the concept of learned behaviors and how they become habits over time.
• 🕊️ The process of 'shaping' was used to teach pigeons to count, which involves gradually reinforcing behaviors until they become habitual, similar to how humans develop coping mechanisms.
• 🔄 The speaker's career shift from clinical psychology to animal cognition and neuroscience highlights the parallels between animal training and human mental health practices.
• 📈 The analogy of the pigeon learning to count demonstrates how habits, both in animals and humans, are formed and can be changed through consistent reinforcement and practice.
• 🤔 The speaker has observed that many people rely on unhelpful coping mechanisms, such as procrastination or excessive smartphone use, which can lead to increased anxiety and depression.
• 📱 The dangers of certain coping mechanisms are that they provide temporary relief but can reinforce negative patterns, leading to long-term mental health issues.
• 🔁 The concept of 'insanity' is introduced as doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results, which applies to unhelpful coping mechanisms in mental health.
• 👨‍👧 The speaker shares personal insights as a father, emphasizing the importance of self-confidence and how it can be affected by the use of technology, such as smartphones.
• 💡 The idea that mental health is a complex and nuanced issue is presented, suggesting that understanding and addressing individual coping mechanisms is crucial for improvement.
• 🌟 The speaker encourages self-awareness and the unlearning of unhelpful habits by trying new strategies and fostering open discussions about mental health.
• 🗣️ The importance of talking about mental health and one's own struggles is underscored as a means to uncover and address unhelpful coping mechanisms.

Q & A

What is the connection between a pigeon's ability to count and human mental health?

The connection lies in the concept of learned behaviors. Just as pigeons can be trained to count through a process called shaping, which involves reinforcing behaviors over time, humans also develop habits or coping mechanisms that are reinforced by their brains to help them feel better in the moment.

What is the process called that is used to teach pigeons to count?

The process is called 'shaping,' which starts by rewarding the pigeon with food every time it looks at a touchscreen. Over time, as the rules become more complex, the pigeon learns to associate certain behaviors with rewards, such as pecking at a red square for two flashes of light and a green square for three.

How does the speaker relate the process of teaching pigeons to the habits humans develop?

The speaker relates the process by emphasizing that both pigeons and humans develop behaviors and habits through reinforcement. In humans, these habits can become coping mechanisms that initially provide relief but may lead to negative outcomes like anxiety and depression if overused.

What are some examples of coping mechanisms that can backfire and lead to anxiety or depression?

Examples include procrastination, overusing smartphones, and working harder through tough times. These mechanisms provide temporary relief but can reinforce negative patterns, leading to increased stress, anxiety, or depression.

Why does the speaker consider smartphones a potential threat to his daughter's self-confidence?

The speaker views smartphones as a threat because research shows that increased use among children correlates with higher levels of anxiety and depression, which can erode self-confidence.

How does the speaker suggest using smartphones as a coping mechanism affects mental health?

The speaker suggests that using smartphones to seek reassurance during moments of uncertainty and anxiety can train the brain to rely on this instant relief, thereby weakening resilience to anxiety and potentially increasing overall anxiety levels.

What is the 'perfect storm' mentioned in the script, and how does it relate to mental health?

The 'perfect storm' refers to a series of negative events or circumstances that occur simultaneously, depleting an individual's internal resources and potentially leading to a mental health crisis, such as increased anxiety or depression.

What does the speaker suggest as a way to break negative patterns and improve self-confidence?

The speaker suggests talking more about mental health issues to uncover unhelpful coping mechanisms. By becoming aware of these patterns, individuals can start to unlearn them and build new, healthier habits.

Why is it important to talk about mental health according to the speaker?

Talking about mental health is important because it helps to reduce stigma, uncover unhelpful coping mechanisms, and promote awareness, which are the first steps towards unlearning these patterns and improving mental health.

What two questions does the speaker recommend asking oneself to assess personal coping mechanisms?

The two questions are: 1) What do you do when you feel stressed, anxious, or sad? 2) Have these feelings gotten better or worse over time? These questions can help individuals evaluate the effectiveness of their coping mechanisms.