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David Eagleman is a neuroscientist at Stanford University and an internationally bestselling author. He is co-founder of two venture-backed companies, Neosensory and BrainCheck, and he also directs the Center for[…]
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Unlikely Collaborators

Expanding your worldview starts with understanding your brain. Stanford neuroscientist David Eagleman explains.

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Whether it’s something as trivial as pineapple on pizza or as complex as religion, human beings have always been passionately divided by polarizing viewpoints.

David Eagleman, a neuroscientist at Stanford University and the international bestselling author of Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain, offers groundbreaking insights into why we struggle to see eye-to-eye and, more importantly, how we can bridge these divides.

Us vs them

“We are born on a particular spot on the planet, and we have a thin little trajectory of experience,” Eagleman says about our internal model of reality. “We construct what we believe the world is made up of from there.” The result? We are each convinced that our unique view of reality is accurate.

The brain’s tendency to categorize people into ingroups and outgroups further complicates matters. Eagleman’s research reveals a startling truth: our brains process members of perceived outgroups differently. In one experiment, participants showed reduced empathy-related brain activity when witnessing pain inflicted on someone they considered part of an outgroup.

This is a slippery slope, as extreme outgroup categorization can lead to dehumanization. “When you look at any conflict in the world, the two sides don’t think of each other like a human. They think of each other like an object,” Eagleman explains. This cognitive shortcut makes it easier for people to justify harmful actions against those they’ve mentally classified as “other.”

Understanding others

So, how do we break free from these neurological constraints and foster a more understanding society? Eagleman offers several strategies:

  1. Blind our biases: Recognizing that we all have biases is the first step. From there, we can implement systems to counteract them. Eagleman cites examples like orchestras conducting blind auditions or tech companies evaluating code samples without demographic information.
  2. Resist dehumanization tactics: By understanding common propaganda techniques, such as associating outgroups with repulsive imagery (moral pollution), we can become more resistant to manipulation and better able to evaluate arguments on their merits.
  3. Entangle group memberships: Eagleman is particularly excited about this approach, which involves creating cross-cutting allegiances. He recounts the story of the Iroquois Native Americans, whose leader assigned members of warring tribes to shared clans, effectively complicating their loyalties and reducing conflict. “If we can strengthen the bonds between all different groups of people, that’s one solution that makes it more difficult to go and attack your neighbor,” Eagleman explains.

These strategies aim to expand our internal models of reality, allowing us to see the world – and each other – more clearly. Eagleman envisions applying these principles to social media algorithms, prioritizing content that highlights shared interests before revealing divisive differences.

Changing for the better

The Albuquerque-born neuroscientist argues that the stakes for implementing such changes are higher now than ever. “It’s very easy to kill an enormous number of people with the push of a button,” Eagleman warns. “Given the current context of our technology, this is why we need to figure out this problem and reach a new level of maturation for our species.”

Eagleman’s work in social neuroscience offers the chance of a more harmonious future. By recognizing the limitations of our perceptions and actively working to expand them, it is possible to create a society better equipped to handle complex challenges.

This research reminds us that while we may be constrained by our brains’ tendencies, we’re not imprisoned by them. Through science, philosophy and a willingness to challenge our assumptions, we can expand our views and recognize that our way of seeing the world isn’t the only truth. It’s one of many.

We spoke to David Eagleman for The Science of Perception Box, a Big Think interview series created in partnership with Unlikely Collaborators. As a creative non-profit organization, they’re on a mission to help people challenge their perceptions and expand their thinking. This series dives into the science behind our thought patterns. Watch Eagleman’s full interview above, and visit Perception Box to see more in this series.


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