Podcast Summary
Our brains perceive future selves differently: Understanding our brains perceive future selves differently can help make better decisions for long-term well-being.
Our brains perceive our future selves as distinct from our present selves. Psychologist Hal Hirschfield, who has dedicated his career to studying people's relationship to their future, discovered this through an MRI study where participants were asked to think about themselves, Matt Damon, and Natalie Portman. The brain activated different regions when participants thought about themselves and when they thought about other people. However, when participants were asked to picture themselves in the future, a different part of the brain lit up, suggesting that our brains perceive our future selves as separate entities. Understanding this distinction can help us be kinder to our future selves and make better decisions for our long-term well-being. As we look towards the future, it's important to remember that the choices we make today will impact the person we become.
The disconnect between our present and future selves: Neuroscientific findings reveal our brains perceive future selves as separate individuals, making it hard to prioritize actions for their benefit over present needs. Understanding this disconnect can help us make choices that benefit both selves.
Our brains perceive our future selves as separate individuals, making it challenging to prioritize actions that benefit them over our present selves. This finding, discovered by neuroscientists, explains why it's often hard to make sacrifices for our future selves. Psychologist Hal Hirschfield likens our relationship with our future selves to that of a colleague we're not deeply connected to. We might find it rational to focus on our present needs, as the consequences for our future selves seem uncertain. However, people do vary in their sense of connection to their future selves, which can influence their actions. The reasons for this disconnect are still being explored, but it may be due to the abstract nature of our future selves and the immediate temptations we face. Understanding this disconnect can help us develop strategies to bridge the gap and make choices that benefit both our present and future selves.
Bridging the gap between present and future selves for increased savings: Using age progression technology and emotional connection to make future selves more relatable can boost savings behavior.
Our connection to our future selves significantly influences our financial decision-making. The more distinct we perceive our future selves to be from our present selves, the less likely we are to save for the future. Researchers have found that this disconnect can be bridged by making our future selves feel more relatable and emotionally close to us. Techniques such as age progression technology, which shows us what we might look like in the future, can help make our future selves more vivid and emotional, leading to increased savings behavior. This approach has been shown to have small but significant effects, and it's important to pair these interventions with opportunities for people to make decisions for their future selves. Companies, including banks, can use these insights to design more effective savings programs and help their customers build stronger relationships with their future selves.
Planning for the Future: Balancing Present and Future Selves: It's crucial to strike a balance between living in the moment and planning for the future to enjoy the present while preparing for a better one. Support independent journalism for reliable news access.
It's essential to consider the future and plan accordingly, despite feelings of hopelessness or existential terror. Hal Hirschfield, a psychologist, emphasizes that our brains perceive our future selves as different people, and neglecting them can lead to regrettable consequences. Young adults, in particular, may feel pessimistic about the future due to various global challenges. However, as Hal points out, the future will come regardless of our feelings, and it's crucial to strike a balance between living in the moment and planning for the future. This harmony allows us to enjoy the present while preparing for a better future. Public support for independent and accurate journalism is vital to ensure everyone has access to reliable news and podcasts, especially during election years. Teladoc Health offers solutions to help manage health conditions and improve overall well-being.
Coexisting and evolving selves: Our present decisions can positively impact our future selves, as we are not static beings but rather constantly growing and evolving.
Our current and future selves can coexist and intertwine, with decisions we make now benefiting us both in the present and the future. This idea was expressed by psychologist Hal Herschfield, who suggested that we can create a mosaic of our lives where different aspects come together at once. This perspective challenges the constant conflict and tension between the present and the future. Meanwhile, children in the popular web series Recess Therapy express similar hopes and dreams for their futures, showing how our aspirations can change over time. Journalist Shankar Vadantam, for instance, went from aspiring to be a soccer star to an engineer, and eventually a journalist. The future may be unpredictable, but it's important to remember that we are not static beings and will likely grow and evolve into different versions of ourselves.
The Illusion of Continuity: Our perspectives, views, and preferences can change significantly, and failing to imagine this can lead to unexpected consequences in our end-of-life decisions
Our perception of ourselves remaining the same in the future, an illusion of continuity, can be misleading. We may not imagine that our perspectives, views, and preferences will change significantly, but they can and often do. This lack of imagination can lead to unexpected consequences, as shown in the story of John and Stephanie Rinka. Stephanie, who had expressed a desire to die with dignity if she were to fall ill, surprised her husband by consenting to life support when she was no longer able to breathe on her own. This change was not due to inconsistency but rather the inability to fully understand and empathize with her future self's situation. It's essential to remember that our future selves may not be the same as our present selves, and planning for them requires considering the possibility of change.
Strive to be the authors of our own future selves: Recognize change, be curious, open to new experiences, exercise humility, be brave, and trust future capacities and strengths
It's important to recognize that we will change as people over time, and we should strive to be the authors of our own future selves by being curious and open to new experiences. We should also exercise humility and recognize that our current opinions and beliefs may not be the same in the future. Lastly, we should be brave and trust that our future selves will have new capacities and strengths. Using the example of parenting, we can apply this concept to our own lives, understanding that our current challenges are temporary and that we have the potential to grow and change for the better.
Be kind to yourself and remember the future may bring smiles: Treat yourself with empathy, focus on present while planning for future, and use history for future generations' benefit.
It's important to be kind to ourselves during tough times and remember that we may look back on those moments with a smile in the future. Shankar Vedantam, host of the podcast Hidden Brain, encourages us to treat ourselves with the same empathy we extend to children. Additionally, he reminds us that individual choices may change in profound ways over time, so we should focus on what's right in front of us while keeping in mind the importance of collectively planning for the future. Bina Venkatraman, a columnist at The Washington Post, emphasizes the significance of using history and collective memory to plan for future generations. Overall, these insights encourage us to approach our relationship with ourselves and the future with resilience, empathy, and a long-term perspective.
Learning from history for effective long-term planning: Effective long-term planning requires considering historical events and knowledge to avoid repeating past mistakes and better prepare for the future, but overreacting to recent events should be avoided.
Effective long-term planning requires looking beyond recent events and learning from history. Bina Venkatraman's experience working in disaster planning during the Obama administration and her visit to Fukushima, Japan, after the nuclear disaster, highlighted the importance of this principle. While some organizations were focused on short-term goals, the long-term consequences of disasters, like the one in Fukushima, could be devastating. The contrasting experiences of TEPCO and the Onagawa nuclear power plant illustrate this point. TEPCO's risk analysis did not consider the past, leading to the Fukushima disaster. In contrast, Onagawa's engineer, Janosuke Hirai, used historical knowledge to build the power plant at a higher elevation and farther from the coast, saving lives during the tsunami. By learning from the past and taking a long-term view, societies can better prepare for the future. However, it's important to remember that overreacting to recent events can also have negative consequences, as seen in Japan's reduction of nuclear capacity and turn to fossil fuels after Fukushima.
Passing on valuable information and artifacts to future generations: Connecting to our past and future selves through the passing down of valuable information and artifacts can give us a sense of purpose and make a positive impact on the future.
We have a responsibility to future generations, whether it's dealing with nuclear waste or the climate crisis. We may not be able to intimately know what people thousands of years from now will want or need, but we can pass on valuable information and artifacts that can be carried on by each generation. This sense of connection to our past and future selves is a powerful way to reclaim foresight and feel a part of something greater than ourselves. An example of this is the passing down of family heirlooms, which can serve as a link between generations and make us feel like we're part of a larger story. By seeing ourselves as good ancestors, we can make a positive impact on the future.
Thinking and acting on a larger timescale for future generations: Embrace the time rebellion by learning from nature, taking care of the planet, and focusing on regenerating place to ensure a healthy future for future generations
To become good ancestors and future-proof our actions, we need to start thinking and acting on a much larger timescale. This means extending our time horizons beyond the present and considering the impact of our decisions on future generations. Roman Krznarek, a philosopher and author, calls this the time rebellion. He suggests learning from nature and taking care of the planet as a way to ensure a healthy future for our descendants. The time rebellion is already gaining momentum through movements like future design, which encourages long-term planning, and legal actions like the one taken by Our Children's Trust on behalf of future generations. By focusing on regenerating place and taking care of the planet, we can all become time rebels and leave a positive legacy for future generations.
Exploring human decision-making and Black experiences in America: NPR offers podcasts like Choiceology, Black Stories, Black Truths, and partnerships with Schwab and Rosetta Stone for deeper understanding of decision-making and Black experiences.
Our decisions are influenced by various psychological and economic factors, as explored in NPR's sponsor Choiceology podcast. Meanwhile, NPR's Black Stories, Black Truths podcast offers a nuanced and dynamic exploration of the Black experience in America. For language learners, NPR's partnership with Rosetta Stone provides an opportunity to acquire a lifetime membership to 25 different languages at a discounted rate. These podcasts highlight the importance of understanding human decision-making and the richness and complexity of Black experiences in America. To delve deeper into these topics, listen to Choiceology and Black Stories, Black Truths, and consider taking advantage of the special offers from Schwab and Rosetta Stone.
