Psychology

I urge everyone to channel their inner teenager. Think back to those fearless days brimming with creativity and ambition. As we age, societal rewards for 'playing it safe' can stifle our innovative spirit.

Former CEO of Cisco Systems, led company through internet boom era

Dyslexics, like me, often possess above-average intelligence, but we grapple with sequential thinking. Instead of thinking linearly from A to B to C to D, we jump from A to B to Z. Over time, I've learned to turn a perceived 'weakness' into a strength.

Former CEO of Cisco Systems, led company through internet boom era

The PTSD levels in women nine months post-miscarriage match those of soldiers returning from combat zones like Afghanistan. Coupled with elevated suicide rates and the broader impact on families, it's a glaring issue. Considering miscarriages occur in 1 in 4 pregnancies, it's astonishing how common yet underdiscussed it is.

British TV presenter, singer, and classical musician from Pop Idol

Fear isn't just a neurophysiological phenomenon; it's also socio-cultural. We're enculturated to fear; it's something that we inherit, acquire, and learn – which implies that there is possibility of 'unlearning' our fear.

When I approach anything, especially high-risk activities, I always brace myself for the worst outcome – death. By accepting death, they rid themselves of the fear and could focus purely on survival. This mentality is my cornerstone.

Professional BASE jumper and skydiver known for extreme cliff jumping

Fear is a complex emotion that's moulded by years of experience. Much like fitness training, confronting fear is progressive. You can't begin with soaring in a wingsuit through a narrow canyon at astonishing speeds. This sport mandates extensive training and preparation.

Professional BASE jumper and skydiver known for extreme cliff jumping

I find it fascinating that human beings seem like their default recreation is sedation. People are terrified, they don't like fear. They're literally bubble wrapping themselves. If you never face real fear, then you're going to weaken yourself.

Professional BASE jumper and skydiver known for extreme cliff jumping

Adversity, I believe, is vital. It's the crucible where strength is forged. Without struggle, without battles to face, we remain static, unable to grow. Extreme experiences, where the intensity of life is palpable, have been instrumental in my evolution as a person.

Professional BASE jumper and skydiver known for extreme cliff jumping

True courage isn't present without fear. How can one be brave without confronting what scares them? When you witness someone tackling extreme or perilous tasks without any sign of fear, it doesn't reflect courage. You need fear to get stronger. You need discomfort to build.

Professional BASE jumper and skydiver known for extreme cliff jumping

The 'Doomers' often anthropomorphize computers by attributing human characteristics to them. Humans have evolved their competitive nature and occasional violent impulses from survival in a world marked by resource scarcity and competition. Computers, on the other hand, have emerged from a vastly different evolutionary path. Thus, to say a computer 'wants to eat your lunch' leans heavily into projecting human traits onto machines.

Communications scholar and pioneer in media effects research and digital divide studies

My perspective, which I term 'evolutionary intelligence,' stems from the observation that humans often misconstrue their surroundings. The sheer number of cognitive biases we possess is staggering; Wikipedia lists over 200. If we could address even the top 10 of these biases and harness advisory tools like Waze for traffic, it could significantly benefit us.

Communications scholar and pioneer in media effects research and digital divide studies

It's about catching that surge of emotion, be it offense or anger, usually incited by someone attempting to ignite your social identity or signal an outgroup threat, with a likely aim to shape your thoughts or actions. The antidote lies in introspection, a slowing down of reaction, coupled with a continuous questioning of the messenger's motivations and potential gains.

A particular individual trait that has piqued my interest through research is intellectual humility. Embracing the possibility of being wrong enhances the likelihood of being right—a somewhat magical paradox. This notion dovetails with the scientific ethos, where the quest isn't about proving oneself right.

The more pronounced a group identity is, especially when an identifiable outgroup exists, the more likely individuals are to dehumanize those not in their group. When asked to describe oneself, if the first identification that comes to mind is that of the group, the likelihood of outgroup dehumanization increases, seeing them as less than human.

The crux of the matter is, the human journey is fraught with challenges. It's frequently marked by pain, confusion, and a feeling of helplessness. Herein lies the allure of fiction—it provides what reality often withholds. Fictions grant us a semblance of understanding, a hint of control, and a sense of community during times of solitude. This makes misinformation appealing, as it fulfils these basic human desires: comprehension, control, and community.

If we turned back the clock to 120 years ago, we wouldn't even be aware of many conflicts and crises when they occurred. It might take days before reading about a distressing situation in a distant land in a newspaper. This isn't to say we should ignore the suffering of others, but rather to understand these events within a larger framework.