Mind Other Resources
- Wikipedia. "Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs." Link 5 min
What are six levels in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs? (10 or fewer)
What two “values” are common to all living organisms?(2 words)
What does Daniel Gilbert mean by “surrogation” and “simulation”? (~30 words)
- 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.
Which of these does Gilbert say is superior for predicting affective states, and how does he explain its superiority and our reluctance to use it?(~20 words)
- "Neighborly Advice." (Same as reading above.)
2. We’ve a mistaken idea of self as conscious, competent, rational controller, when in reality we’re addicts operating largely unconsciously by habit and justifying to sustain illusion.
What do we mean and understand by “illusion of control”?(20 words)
- Wikipedia. "Illusion of Control." Link 2 mins
What evidence have we for preconscious choice?(<30 words)
- Wikipedia. "Preconscious." Link 1 min
- Nature. "Brain makes decisions before you even know it." Link 3 mins
What do we mean and understand by priming, and what is an example of it?(<40 words)
Humans readily ignore global warming because it lacks what qualities?(<25 words)
- 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.
How can we apply evolutionary understanding of human touch to our benefit?(<30 words)
- Keltner, Dacher. (2010). "The Science of Touch." Greater Good. - Authors confirm importance of touch for human well-being and provide evolutionary arguments to explain their findings. Link 5pp. 5 min.
What are some of the postures Fisher identifies in human courting behavior?(<30 words)
- Fisher, Helen. (1994). "Courting." Anatomy of Love. - Fisher uses evolutionary biology to shed light on universal human courting behaviors. Link pp. 19-36. 20 min.
What are some mating strategies among our primate relatives?(<10 words)
- Swedell, Larissa. (2012). "Primate Sociality and Social Systems." Link 5 min
To what extent do humans’ mating strategies differ from those of other primates?(<20 words)
- Wikipedia. "Monogamy." 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. Link 8pp. 10 min.
What evidence have we of universal patterns in body language?(<20 words)
- Widrich, Leo. (2013). "The Secrets of Body Language: Why You Should Never Cross Your Arms Again." Buffer. - Author explains evolutionary roots of various postures and offers advice for using body position to enhance well-being. Link 10pp. 5 min.
What evidence have we of universal patterns in facial expression?(<20 words)
- Ekman, Paul and Keltner, Dacher. "Are Facial Expressions Universal?" Link 2pp. 5 min
What do we commonly mean and understand by “addiction”?(<15 words)
- Wordnik. "Addiction." Link
Define addiction as we do in this course. (3 words)
- Magic, "Thoughts on Addiction" Link 5pp (10 min)
What are some consequences of defining “addiction” as we do in this course?(<40 words)
- Magic, "Thoughts on Addiction" Link 5pp (10 min)
What is a keystone habit? How can we use knowledge of keystone habits to live better?(<10 words)
- 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.
What do we mean by classical conditioning?(<20 words)
- Wikipedia. “Classical Conditioning.” Link 2 min
Give an example of how you’ve been conditioned in this way.(<15 words)
- Wikipedia. “Classical Conditioning.” Link 2 min
What do we mean by operant conditioning?(<20 words)
- Wikipedia. “Operant Conditioning.” Link
Give an example of how you’ve been conditioned in this way.(<15 words)
- Wikipedia. “Operant Conditioning.” Link
What do we mean by "psychological defense mechanisms"? (25 or fewer)
- Wikipedia. "Defense Mechanisms." Link
How might we use valuescience to evolve towards reliance upon more mature defense mechanisms? (50 or fewer)
- Wikipedia. "Defense Mechanisms." Link
State Totman’s thesis about justification. Roughly what fraction of human mental activity does Totman classify as justification? Under what circumstances is justification adaptive? Maladaptive?(<50 words)
- Totman, Richard. (1985). "Notes." "Translation." "Distillation." (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. Link
3. We can learn to deliberately alter consciousness and awareness.
Name three examples of practices through which we might alter consciousness and awareness.(<15 words)
- Gilsinan, Kathy. (2015). "The Buddhist and the Neuroscientist." The Atlantic. 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. Link 2pp. 2 min.
- Magic. (1999). Language We Live. Link People living at Magic, an valuescience-based community, and aiming to cultivate health, cooperation, and environmental stewardship describe deliberate changes to idiolect they're making and advocate, and explain their rationales for doing so.
- Widrich, Leo. (2013). "The Secrets of Body Language: Why You Should Never Cross Your Arms Again." Buffer. - Author explains evolutionary roots of various postures and offers advice for using body position to enhance well-being. Link 10pp. 5 min.
What two general strategies do humans employ to address challenges in the environment? (2 words)
- Wikipedia. "Serenity Prayer." Link 2 min
- Magic. "Balancing Manipulation and Accommodation." Link 5 min
In contemporary western society, do you think we use a balanced approach of the above two strategies?(<10 words)
- Wikipedia. "Serenity Prayer." Link 2 min
