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Questions

Questions answered on Hidden Brain

60 questions from 8 episodes of Hidden Brain, each answered in our own words from our transcript of the episode.

▸How Love Really Works

2026-11-02 · 8 questions

Q1What is the EvoScript that Paul Eastwick criticizes on Hidden Brain?Q2Why does Paul Eastwick say dating apps make women seem far pickier than they are?Q3Can machine learning predict romantic compatibility, according to Samantha Joel's research?Q4How does Paul Eastwick explain that compatibility is created rather than found?Q5Do men and women want different things in a partner, according to Paul Eastwick?Q6Why does Paul Eastwick say people should not fear the friend zone?Q7What does Edward Lemay say about projecting our feelings onto a partner?Q8How does Edward Lemay suggest handling a partner who projects their fears onto you?

▸The Story of Stories

2026-10-26 · 7 questions

Q1What is the illusion of explanatory depth, according to Tania Lombrozo on Hidden Brain?Q2Why does Tania Lombrozo call conspiracy theories an error of over-explaining?Q3How do stories shape jury verdicts, according to Tania Lombrozo?Q4How does Tania Lombrozo say our drive to explain affects political polarization?Q5Does Jonathan Rottenberg think depression has a purpose?Q6How does Jonathan Rottenberg answer critics of his silver-lining view of depression?Q7Why does Jonathan Rottenberg say shared hardship can make depression easier to bear?

▸Do You Have Trouble Sleeping?

2026-10-19 · 8 questions

Q1How much sleep does Chris Barnes say adults need, on Hidden Brain?Q2What does Chris Barnes say about sleep deprivation and unethical behavior at work?Q3What did Chris Barnes find about daylight saving time and accidents?Q4Do late-night European soccer games cause car crashes in Asia, according to Chris Barnes?Q5Why do people brag about getting little sleep, according to Chris Barnes?Q6What does Rachel Zoffness mean when she says pain is biopsychosocial?Q7Why does Rachel Zoffness use Usain Bolt to explain the difference between pain and damage?Q8How does Rachel Zoffness use pacing and a pain dial to treat chronic pain?

▸Why Am I Unhappy?

2026-10-12 · 8 questions

Q1What did George Loewenstein say about the hedonic treadmill on Hidden Brain?Q2Why does George Loewenstein say negative emotions are stronger than positive ones?Q3What are meta-emotions, according to George Loewenstein?Q4What is the spiral of silence George Loewenstein describes with Cass Sunstein?Q5Why does George Loewenstein advise against acting while in a negative mood?Q6What did Alison Ledgerwood's research find about negative framing?Q7Can negativity bias affect a whole society, according to Alison Ledgerwood?Q8How does Alison Ledgerwood suggest dealing with the negativity bias?

▸When Bad Things Happen to Good People

2026-10-05 · 8 questions

Q1What are Kate Bowler's three types of unhelpful responses to someone's suffering?Q2Why does Kate Bowler say 'everything happens for a reason' hurts people who are suffering?Q3How does Kate Bowler explain the prosperity gospel's view of sickness?Q4Does Kate Bowler think optimism helps people with illness, or is it toxic positivity?Q5What does Kate Bowler mean by staying porous, drawing on Charles Taylor?Q6What does Lisa Miller say brain scans show about spirituality?Q7Why does Lisa Miller say service is the strongest spiritual practice?Q8What is Lisa Miller's advice for scientists who struggle to believe?

▸How to Make a Difference: Part 2

2026-09-28 · 7 questions

Q1How does Martin Seligman say to stop catastrophizing before a stressful meeting?Q2What did the Langer and Rodin nursing home plant study find, according to Martin Seligman?Q3Why does Martin Seligman say the original theory of learned helplessness was wrong?Q4What are the three components of agency according to Martin Seligman?Q5How does Martin Seligman use graded task assignment for depression and phobias?Q6How does Martin Seligman say to use your signature strengths at work?Q7Why is Martin Seligman optimistic about AI and human agency?

▸How to Make a Difference: Part 1

2026-09-21 · 7 questions

Q1What is learned helplessness, according to Martin Seligman on Hidden Brain?Q2How did Martin Seligman link learned helplessness to depression?Q3Why do some people never become helpless, according to Martin Seligman?Q4What did Martin Seligman find about optimism at West Point's Beast Barracks?Q5How did Martin Seligman's optimism test work for MetLife insurance salesmen?Q6How does Martin Seligman define agency in his book Agency?Q7Does Martin Seligman think agency explains the axial age and human progress?

▸Why Conversations Go Wrong

2026-09-14 · 7 questions

Q1How does Deborah Tannen explain interrupting and pauses on Hidden Brain?Q2What is the difference between a message and a metamessage, according to Deborah Tannen?Q3Why do some people hint instead of asking directly, according to Deborah Tannen?Q4Why do mothers and daughters clash over hair, clothes and weight, per Deborah Tannen?Q5When does psychologist Emma Levine say people think it is okay to lie?Q6Is saying nothing better than telling a white lie, according to Emma Levine?Q7What does Emma Levine say about hiding a terminal illness or death from a relative?

Questions from every show →

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