Radical Kindness
Summary
Shankar Vedantam speaks with psychologist and neuroscientist Abigail Marsh about the science of altruism, sparked by her own dramatic rescue experience. They delve into the unique brain characteristics of extraordinary altruists, such as non-directed kidney donors, who exhibit a profound sensitivity to others' distress and a wide circle of caring. The discussion highlights that selfless acts often arise from intuition and humility rather than calculation, and explores how humans, inherently altruistic, can overcome fear to cultivate greater generosity in everyday life.Episode description
Why do some people risk their own lives to help another person, or give away their fortunes for the benefit of strangers? This week, we talk with psychologist and neuroscientist Abigail Marsh, who studies the science of altruism. We'll explore what's known about the brains of people who perform acts of remarkable selflessness, and how the rest of us can learn to be more like them.
Do you have follow-up questions, comments, or stories about altruism and generosity after listening to this episode? If you'd be comfortable sharing with the Hidden Brain audience, please record a voice memo on your phone and email it to us at ideas@hiddenbrain.org. Use the subject line “generosity.” And if you liked today's conversation, please check out our sister podcast, "My Unsung Hero." You can find the show on this podcast platform, or by visiting our website: https://hiddenbrain.org/myunsunghero/
The Hidden Brain tour heads to Toronto on Wednesday, August 6! Join Shankar there or at one of our upcoming stops in Baltimore, Washington, D.C., or Los Angeles. More info and tickets here: https://hiddenbrain.org/tour/
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