Podcast Summary
Exposing the crisis of scholarship versus activism in academia: The 'grievance studies hoax' at Portland State University revealed the prioritization of activism over scholarship in certain academic fields, potentially leading to data fabrication and damage to university reputation and enrollment.
The academic world is facing a crisis of scholarship versus activism, as shown in the "grievance studies hoax" at Portland State University. Researchers James Lindsay, Peter Boghossian, and James Lindsay submitted fake papers on controversial topics, some of which were accepted into reputable journals. Now, assistant professor Peter Boghossian is under investigation for potential data fabrication. However, the intent behind the hoax was to expose the issue of prioritizing activism over scholarship in certain academic fields. The question remains whether the university will interpret this as data fabrication or recognize it as an expose meant to correct the problem. This incident highlights the importance of maintaining academic integrity and the potential consequences of not doing so, including damage to the university's reputation and enrollment.
University environment shift from truth-seeking to political combat: Since 2014, universities have seen a shift from academic rigor to political activism, leading to polarized dynamics and demands for professors to be fired, threatening the integrity of the university system.
The academic environment, which was once focused on the truth-seeking game, has seen a shift towards more polarized and confrontational dynamics. This change began around 2014, influenced by various social trends and the increasing political polarization. University faculties, which have historically leaned left, have become more ideologically homogeneous, leading to a greater desire to "defeat the other side" rather than engage in nuanced, data-driven discussions. The result is a clash between the truth-seeking game and the political combat game, causing emotional reactions and demands for professors to be fired. This shift away from academic rigor towards political activism is a significant concern and threatens the integrity of the university system.
Cultural shift in higher education: Political activism, perceived oppression, and intolerance for opposing views have led to a collapse of trust between students and professors, making free debate and idea exchange reluctant. Social media and generational factors contribute. Most institutions remain unaffected, but a group called The Heterodox Academy is addressing these issues.
The current educational landscape, particularly at elite liberal arts colleges, is experiencing a significant cultural shift. This shift includes an increase in political activism, a heightened sensitivity to perceived oppression, and a growing intolerance for opposing viewpoints. This has led to a collapse of trust between students and professors, resulting in a reluctance to engage in free debate and the exchange of ideas. The use of social media and the influence of generational factors have also contributed to this trend. It's important to note that while this issue is real and concerning, it's not as pervasive as it may seem in the news. Most institutions of higher education in the country have not been significantly affected. The heterodox academy, a group of professors pushing back against this trend, is working to address these issues in a bipartisan manner.
The Impact of Call Out Culture and Social Media on Society: Call out culture and social media are leading to a 'most sensitive person standard' in education and other areas, where individuals prioritize catering to the most sensitive person to avoid criticism, resulting in external costs and hindering productive dialogue.
The rise of call out culture and social media among younger generations, particularly those born after 1995, is having a significant impact on society. This culture, which values public calls-out over private conversations, has led to a "most sensitive person standard" in education and other areas, where individuals feel pressure to cater to the most sensitive person in the room to avoid being publicly criticized. This prestige economy, where individuals seek to increase their standing by calling out perceived wrongdoings, imposes external costs on others and can hinder productive dialogue and progress. Unfortunately, this trend is not likely to correct itself without intervention, as people are primarily motivated by the desire to increase their prestige and protect themselves from criticism.
Fear of backlash hinders free thinking in education: The cultural climate fuels polarization and conformity, hindering nuanced discussions and critical thinking in education. Encouraging open dialogue and critical thinking is crucial for creating a more inclusive and nuanced society.
Our current cultural climate is leading to increased polarization and conformity, making it difficult for nuanced discussions and free thinking, particularly in educational settings. People are afraid to speak out or challenge popular opinions due to fear of backlash and potential consequences. This trend, fueled by social media and the us-versus-them mentality, is resulting in a lack of nuance and higher education becoming increasingly unpleasant. It's essential to help the younger generation recognize and challenge these patterns of behavior, giving them the vocabulary and tools to label and mock these divisive tendencies. We need to encourage open dialogue and critical thinking to create a more inclusive and nuanced society.
College campuses and complex culture of discrimination and free speech: Microaggression reporting systems can lead to mistrust, distorted thinking, and potential harm, contributing to depression and lack of resilience.
The current culture on college campuses, particularly in relation to discrimination and free speech, is a complex issue with good intentions but potentially harmful consequences. The discussion highlights the existence of microaggression reporting systems, which can be based on pressure and lack of empirical evidence, leading to a collapse of trust and an increase in distorted thinking among students. The book "The Coddling of the American Mind" explores this phenomenon, suggesting that these practices may contribute to depression and a lack of resilience. The case of Yale University's response to student protests in 2015 serves as an example of how these incidents can escalate and spread, leading to a national epidemic. It's crucial for educators and administrators to consider the potential consequences of their actions and create a climate that fosters open dialogue, critical thinking, and mutual respect.
The Yale incident and the larger movement against microaggressions: The Yale incident sparked a larger movement against microaggressions, a subtle form of discrimination. The concept of microaggressions is useful but challenging to measure. Education should teach multiple perspectives to foster intellectual growth and critical thinking.
The Yale incident in 2015 was not an isolated event, but rather the spark that ignited a larger movement among students demanding greater protection against microaggressions. This movement can be traced back to the 1970s, when the term "microaggressions" was first coined by sociologists. While explicit racism has decreased, microaggressions, or subtle, veiled racist claims, still exist. The concept of microaggressions gained popularity in a 2007 article by Derald Wing Su, and it is useful in recognizing subtle forms of discrimination. However, measuring microaggressions and explicit racism can be challenging, and surveys may not provide an accurate representation of the prevalence of these issues. Furthermore, the speaker argues that the dominance of a single story in education, which portrays society as a zero-sum competition between good and evil groups, is destructive and primitive in a free society. Instead, a good education should teach students to look at the world through multiple perspectives, fostering intellectual growth and critical thinking. In summary, the Yale incident was a catalyst for a larger movement against microaggressions, and the concept of microaggressions is useful in recognizing subtle forms of discrimination. However, measuring these issues can be challenging, and the dominance of a single story in education is destructive and limiting.
Shifting focus from individuals to identities in academia: Identity politics in academia undermines progress towards treating people as individuals and free society
There has been significant progress in reducing racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination throughout the 2000s, as evidenced by the decline in legal and social differentiations based on race and sexual orientation. However, there is a concerning trend emerging on college campuses, particularly in grievance studies departments, where students are being taught to view people through the lens of their identities rather than treating them as individuals. This shift towards identity politics is the opposite of progress and undermines the ideal of a free society where people are free to construct their own lives without being limited by their race, gender, or other identities. It is essential to continue the progress towards treating people as individuals and focusing on understanding human behavior through research rather than making assumptions based on identities.
Identity Politics and Common Humanity: Identity politics can help marginalized groups gain recognition and fight for justice, but it's important to avoid divisive identity politics that pit groups against each other. Instead, focus on common humanity to foster unity and equality.
The discussion revolves around the ideas of identity politics and the role of common humanity in fostering unity and equality. The speaker emphasizes the importance of identity politics as a means for marginalized groups to organize and demand justice. However, they caution against divisive identity politics that pit groups against each other, as this can lead to eternal conflict. Instead, they advocate for an identity politics grounded in common humanity, as exemplified by civil rights leaders like Martin Luther King and Pauli Murray. They also critique the redefining of terms like sexism and racism, which can open the door to treating people as "others" and justifying open discrimination. The speaker expresses concern over the rise of this trend on university campuses and the potential harm it can cause to children's development.
Understanding Privilege and Discrimination: Recognize that privileges exist due to systemic discrimination, avoid using awareness as a basis for discrimination, and focus on addressing the root cause of discrimination for a more equitable society
While there may be privileges experienced by certain groups based on their race, gender, or other identities, the existence of these privileges is directly linked to the presence of discrimination and prejudice. It's important to recognize that the issue is not the existence of privileges in and of themselves, but rather the systemic discrimination that creates and sustains them. The example given of male privilege and the different ways it manifests compared to racial privilege highlights this point. While it's crucial to acknowledge these privileges, it's equally important to avoid using this awareness as a basis for discrimination against others. Instead, we should focus on addressing the root cause of discrimination and working towards creating a more equitable society for all.
Sensitivity towards offensive content can create feelings of worsening conditions: Progress towards less sexism and racism should focus on the damaging effects of discrimination and creating an inclusive environment, avoiding moral valences and pendulum effects.
While societal progress towards less sexism and racism is a positive development, lowering the threshold for what is considered offensive faster than reality changes can lead to feelings of worsening conditions and anger. This is particularly prevalent in progressive educational institutions, where diversity, if not handled well, can create an environment that attaches moral valences to race and other groups, leading to feelings of hatred and exclusion. Instead, emphasis should be placed on the foolishness and damaging effects of racism, and creating an inclusive, open environment where people are encouraged to open their hearts and minds to all races. However, there are also concerns about the potential for a pendulum effect, where extreme social justice movements may eventually lead to a more balanced society. It's important to remember that societal progress is not always a smooth process and that ongoing dialogue and understanding are necessary to navigate these complex issues.
Understanding the importance of raising anti-fragile kids: To effectively raise kids in the 21st century, we must recognize the importance of exposing them to challenges and stressors to build resilience and prevent anxiety and depression.
As we make progress and improve conditions for children, there are potential negative consequences that we need to address. For instance, as we protect children from hardships and challenges, we may be hindering their development and increasing the risk of anxiety and depression. This concept, known as "anti-fragility," refers to systems that become stronger when exposed to stressors. Applying this idea to child development, we need to find ways to raise kids to be resilient in a world that is physically safer but virtually unsafe due to the Internet. Naseem Taleb, the author of "The Black Swan," introduced the term "anti-fragility" to describe systems that benefit from stressors. While we have words for fragile systems that break under pressure, Taleb wondered what to call systems that improve when challenged. The immune system is an example of an anti-fragile system, as it develops defenses based on childhood experiences. To raise kids effectively in the 21st century, we must understand the importance of anti-fragility and find ways to challenge them in a healthy and supportive manner.
Overprotective measures can hinder children's development: Early exposure to allergens and social conflicts helps children build resilience and reduces the risk of certain conditions in the long run.
Overprotecting children from potential harm, such as allergens or social conflicts, can actually hinder their development and make them more susceptible to certain conditions in the long run. For instance, avoiding peanuts during pregnancy and early childhood can increase the risk of peanut allergies. Similarly, shielding children from social conflicts and teasing can limit their ability to build resilience and adapt to challenging situations. The study on peanut allergies showed that early exposure to peanuts significantly reduced the risk of developing an allergy. In the context of social interactions, children need to learn how to navigate conflicts and handle insults to become emotionally and socially robust adults. Overly protective measures may seem beneficial, but they can limit the opportunities for children to learn and grow.
Children learn from challenges and conflict, but it's crucial to ensure they don't suffer chronically or unfairly.: Children benefit from challenges and conflict, but it's important to prevent chronic suffering and power imbalances in bullying situations.
Children need to experience some form of challenge and conflict, as they are anti-fragile and can learn resilience from it. However, it's crucial to ensure that the suffering is not chronic and graded to their level of ability. Bullying, which involves a power differential and chronic suffering, can leave permanent scars and should be addressed carefully. Traditional definitions of bullying, which include a power differential and chronic nature, should be kept in mind. Schools should aim to draw a line between bullying and valuable forms of conflict, rather than overreacting and banning all forms of conflict to avoid potential lawsuits. Instead, focus on building children's capacities and skills, which will indirectly lead to self-esteem and compassion. Children learn compassion through experiences and playing with each other when they have to look out for each other, rather than being taught directly by adults.
The Importance of Unsupervised Play for Children's Development: Unsupervised play is vital for children's social and emotional growth, but societal changes have led to less of it, increasing depression, anxiety, and suicide risks. Balance protection and independence to help kids thrive and learn essential life skills.
Children's unsupervised free play is essential for their social and emotional development, teaching them important skills like compassion, cooperation, and leadership. However, due to societal changes and heightened fears, children are now kept indoors more often, leading to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide. This shift in norms occurred as crime rates were decreasing, and the fear of abduction became overblown. It's crucial to strike a balance between protecting children and allowing them the independence they need to grow into independent, functioning adults. By acknowledging the minimal risks of unsupervised play and focusing on teaching children appropriate safety measures, we can help them thrive and develop essential life skills.
Rates of depression and anxiety among teen girls have significantly increased since 2011: One in five teen girls now experience a major depressive episode in the last year, indicating a concerning trend of mental health issues among young people
The rates of depression and anxiety among children and young adults have seen a significant increase in recent years. This is particularly true for teenage girls, with approximately one in five now experiencing a major depressive episode in the last year. This trend began around 2011 and has continued through the arrival of Generation Z in colleges. While some may argue that this increase is due to increased reporting or comfort with discussing mental health, the data suggests otherwise. This shift has serious implications and warrants further attention and action.
Self-harm Rates Tripled Among Pre-Teens Since 2010, Linked to Social Media: The use of social media and smartphones has contributed to a significant increase in self-harm among pre-teens since 2010, due to factors like relational aggression, social comparison, and fear of missing out.
The rise in self-harm among young girls, particularly pre-teens, starting around 2010, cannot be ignored. The rates have nearly tripled in the last five or six years. This phenomenon is strongly linked to the widespread use of social media and smartphones. The nature of aggression between girls, which is relational and centered around damaging social relationships, is exacerbated by social media. Additionally, the social comparison of beauty and the fear of missing out are two other mechanisms that make girls more vulnerable to the negative effects of social media. These factors combined have made it much harder to be a middle school girl in the digital age.
Protecting Children from Technology's Negative Effects: Implement simple norms like keeping devices out of bedrooms and banning social media use until high school to protect children from technology's negative effects, such as interrupted sleep, increased self-harm, and even suicide.
As technology continues to evolve and become more invasive, it's important to recognize the potential negative effects on children, particularly those under the age of 16. The creators of these technologies, including social media and addictive games, acknowledge their addictive nature and keep their own kids away from them. However, these technologies can be isolating and crowd out healthy activities, leading to issues like interrupted sleep, increased self-harm, and even suicide. To combat these negative effects, simple norms can be implemented, such as keeping devices out of bedrooms and banning social media use until high school. By working together with other parents and school principals, we can help ensure that children are not left behind while also protecting them from the potential harms of technology.
Social media use in middle school: Balancing safety and learning: Parents can consider delaying social media access until high school, encourage outdoor activities, and use technology with limitations to help children navigate the digital world safely and learn important social skills.
Social media use in middle school can cause more harm than good, leading to anxiety and bullying issues. However, it's essential to strike a balance between keeping children safe and allowing them to learn how to navigate the digital world. Parents can consider delaying social media access until high school and encouraging outdoor activities and face-to-face socialization in the meantime. Additionally, using technology with limitations, such as a watch with limited calling features, can help children build independence and confidence while ensuring their safety. Ultimately, it's crucial to be aware of the potential risks and benefits of social media use in different stages of childhood and make informed decisions based on the latest research and personal circumstances.
Fear of letting children roam freely and its impact on mental health: Allowing children independence to roam freely reduces the risk of mental health issues and promotes resilience, but parents' fears are often fueled by misconceptions about abduction risks. Utah's 'free-range kids' law supports parents' decisions to allow unsupervised time for their children.
Our fear of letting children roam freely has been fueled by false beliefs about the risks of abduction and the need for constant supervision. The reality is that the risk is extremely low, and the lack of independence can contribute to mental health issues in teenagers. Utah's "free-range kids" law is an important step towards legal protections for parents who allow their children to be unsupervised. Additionally, the importance of cognitive therapy, Prozac, and meditation in promoting happiness was discussed, and the subjective nature of our perceptions and the role they play in shaping our reality was emphasized. Ultimately, the discussion highlighted the importance of trusting each other and giving children the independence they need to develop social skills and build resilience.
Changing our perception for better happiness and success: To improve our lives, we need to reframe practices like meditation, cognitive therapy, and SSRIs as valuable tools, focusing on their benefits rather than effort required. Understand our minds as complex systems, developing both conscious and unconscious processes for effective learning and growth.
Our perception of the world and our response to it can significantly impact our happiness and success. When we are overly focused on threats and negativity, we may miss out on opportunities. However, our brain tends to resist engaging in practices that have been proven to help us change our perspective, such as meditation, cognitive therapy, and the use of SSRIs. This resistance may stem from our association of such practices with work or discomfort. To effectively change our filters, we need to reframe these practices as valuable tools for improving our lives and focus on the benefits they bring, rather than the effort required. Additionally, it's essential to recognize that our minds are complex systems made up of both conscious and unconscious processes, and that effective learning and personal growth require the development of both the conscious and unconscious mind.
Impact of Academic Pressures and Homework on Young Children's Mental Health and Development: Children benefit most from free play and unstructured learning, but teachers face challenges in catering to diverse abilities and interests while maintaining discipline. Encouraging critical thinking and open debate is crucial for intellectual growth.
There is a growing concern about the impact of academic pressures and homework on young children's mental health and development. Despite the push to teach academic skills earlier, there is little evidence that doing so leads to greater advancement. Instead, children benefit most from free play and unstructured learning. However, teachers face challenges in catering to diverse student abilities and interests while maintaining discipline. The decline of authority in schools and the increasing involvement of parents also complicate matters. Moreover, teaching children how to think critically is essential but often overlooked in the curriculum. As John Stuart Mill argued in "On Liberty," the value of free speech and open debate is crucial for intellectual growth, and we should encourage children to engage in such practices rather than shutting down opposing viewpoints.
The importance of free speech and critical thinking according to John Stuart Mill: Seeking out opponents and critics is essential for intellectual growth, silencing opposing views can be counterproductive, and Mill's ideas on free speech and critical thinking are being revived to promote open discourse and critical thinking in society.
The importance of free speech and critical thinking, as advocated by philosopher John Stuart Mill, is crucial for the development of ideas and the progress of society. Mill's ideas, which were once widely read in colleges, are being revived in a modern edition with the help of scholars and artists. The book's metaphors are being illustrated to make the concepts more accessible. The book's key message is that seeking out opponents and critics is essential for intellectual growth, and that silencing opposing views can be counterproductive. The trend towards censorship, particularly on the left, is a concern as it risks creating ideological echo chambers and stifling the exchange of ideas. The book is available for free download and at a low cost, and it is encouraged that it be assigned in schools to foster critical thinking and open discourse.
Balancing Free Speech and Accountability: Free speech is essential for exchanging ideas, but it's important to prevent intimidation, violence, and harmful content through accountability and norms. Verify identities when necessary and engage with complex ideas, avoiding guilt by association.
While free speech is important for the exchange of ideas and learning, there should be accountability and norms in place to prevent intimidation, violence, and anonymity that can be used to spread hate speech and harmful content. The speaker emphasized the importance of debating ideas and recognizing flaws, but also acknowledged that in certain contexts, such as online platforms, there may be a need for verification of identities to prevent harmful behavior. The speaker also emphasized the importance of nuance and engaging with complex ideas, and criticized the use of guilt by association as a means to silence or discredit others. Overall, the discussion highlighted the need for a balanced approach to free speech that allows for the exchange of ideas while also promoting respectful and accountable discourse.
Labeling people based on associations is flawed thinking: Avoid labeling and shunning people based on their interactions or associations with others, as this can stifle open discourse and the exchange of ideas. Engage with diverse perspectives instead.
The use of guilt by association or labeling people as "McCarthy adjacent" based on their interactions or associations with others is a flawed and dangerous argument. This type of thinking is a holdover from our evolutionary past and can be harmful to open discourse and the exchange of ideas. As a social psychologist, the real concern should be the social dynamics and potential consequences of this type of thinking, rather than the information flow or filter bubbles. It's important to remember that we all need critics and a variety of viewpoints to grow and learn, and we should strive to engage with different perspectives rather than shun or blame those who hold them. As John Stuart Mill and common sense suggest, exposure to diverse ideas makes us wiser. Therefore, it's crucial to call out and challenge this type of thinking when we encounter it and to recognize the value of engaging with a range of perspectives.
