About this episode

The episode discusses how our mental maps influence our perception and responses to the world, featuring insights from psychologist Norman Farb.

As we move through the world, it's easy to imagine we're processing everything that happens around us and then deciding how to respond. But psychologist and neuroscientist Norman Farb says our brains actually navigate the world by coming up with mental maps. These maps act like an autopilot system, allowing us to navigate our lives more efficiently. But sometimes, they can lead us astray, leaving us stuck on a path of negativity and unhappiness. This week, in a favorite episode from 2024, we talk with Norman Farb about how we can update our internal maps and see the world more clearly. Then, Dave Evans answers your questions about radical acceptance.

People in this episode

Hosts: Shankar Vedantam, Hidden Brain

Guest: Norman Farb

Topics covered

• mental maps
• psychology
• neuroscience
• negativity
• happiness
• radical acceptance

Keywords

• mental maps
• psychology
• neuroscience
• negativity
• happiness
• radical acceptance
• Norman Farb

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