Difference between revisions of "Mind Other Resources"

Revision as of 09:27, 26 April 2017

Core Readings

• Gilbert, Daniel, et. al. (2009). "The Surprising Power of Neighborly Advice."

Gilbert explains in evolutionary terms why our attempts to anticipate how we will feel in specified future circumstances is generally inferior to expecting to feel as others similar to us have felt in these circumstances. Link 3pp. 5 min.

• Gilbert, Daniel. (2006). "If Only Gay Sex Caused Global Warming." Los Angeles Times.

Gilbert explains in evolutionary terms our thus far ineffectual response to global climate change. Link. 3pp. 5 min.

• Keltner, Dacher. (2010). "The Science of Touch." Greater Good. Link 5pp. 5 min.

Authors confirm importance of touch for human well-being and provide evolutionary arguments to explain their findings.

• Fisher, Helen. (1994). "Courting." Anatomy of Love. Link pp. 19-36. 20 min.

Fisher uses evolutionary biology to shed light on universal human courting behaviors.

• Swedell, Larissa. (2012). "Primate Sociality and Social Systems." Link 5 min.
• Widrich, Leo. (2013). "The Secrets of Body Language: Why You Should Never Cross Your Arms Again." Buffer. Link 10pp. 5 min.

Widrich explains evolutionary roots of various postures and offers advice for using body position to enhance well-being.

• Ekman, Paul and Keltner, Dacher. "Are Facial Expressions Universal?" Link 2pp. 5 min.
• Magic, "Thoughts on Addiction" Link 5pp. 10 min.
• Totman, Richard. (1985). "Notes." "Translation." "Distillation." Link

David's notes on the book, Social and Biological Roles of Language: The Psychology of Justification. Each is more condensed than prior. "Distillation" is on p. 8. 1p. 5 min. "Translation" is on pages 6-7. 2pp. 5 min. If you want to explore further, read "Notes," a page-by-page summary of the book, on pages 1-5. 5pp. 10 min. Tolman claims that we derive meaning by acting and justifying action. He describes how we evolve narrative and world-view by standing and explaining stands. In dismissing as pathological "non-negotiable" views, he implicitly endorses science in a broad sense that we use the term in class. In addition he argues that behavior necessary to further a valuescience paradigm shift is at once meaningful and healthful. His writing is dense, which is why I've processed it for you; however, I find it illuminating of our inner world, persuasive, affirming of our venture.

• Duhigg, Charles. (2012). "Keystone Habits, or the Ballad of Paul O'Neill." (Chapter 4, pp. 46-56). The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business.Link 11 pp.

Duhigg makes a case that some habits are so central that by altering them we can make other change much more readily. Read this if you've yet to do so.

• Gilsinan, Kathy. (2015). "The Buddhist and the Neuroscientist." The Atlantic. Link 2pp. 2 min.

Gilsinan reports on Richard Davidson's studies of monks, less, experienced meditators, and people trained to be grateful, all of which confirm that well-being is highly correlated with generosity and gratitude.

Interest Readings

• Mind: A Brief Introduction
• Magic. "On Wanting to Die." Link
• Magic. "Balancing Manipulation and Accommodation." Link 5 min
• Wikipedia. (2009). "Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs." Link 8 pp.

Maslow proposes a schema, widely referenced for more than half a century, characterizing what he discovered to be universal human wants.

• Wikipedia. "Illusion of Control." Link 2 mins
• Wikipedia. "Preconscious." Link 1 min
• Nature. "Brain makes decisions before you even know it." Link 3 mins
• Wikipedia. "Priming." Link 3 mins
• Wikipedia. "Mortality Salience." Link 2 mins
• Wikipedia. "Monogamy." Link 8pp. 10 min.

Data and analysis about human mating strategies. There's a lot of info here. Read enough to gain perspective on your own vision and on the behaviors of those you've known.

• Wordnik. "Addiction." Link
• Wikipedia. "Serenity Prayer." Link 2 min
• Wikipedia. “Classical Conditioning.” Link 2 min
• Wikipedia. “Operant Conditioning.” Link
• Wikipedia. "Defense Mechanisms." Link