Published Aug 22, 2017

You 2.0: Decide Already!

Shankar Vedantam and Dan Gilbert delve into the paradox of decision-making and happiness, revealing how uncertainty can heighten emotions and enhance joy, while irreversible choices often yield greater satisfaction than unlimited freedom. Gilbert introduces the concept of surrogation, using others' experiences to accurately foresee personal happiness, challenging the notion of personal experience's uniqueness.

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Dexa/Shankar Vedantam

You 2.0: Decide Already!

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Future Self Misjudgment

The Power of Uncertainty

Commitment and Happiness

Surrogation in Happiness

Future Predictions

Embracing Uncertainty

The Paradox of Choice

Predicting Happiness

The Illusion of Diversity

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The Power of Uncertainty

Surrogation Technique

Predicting Happiness

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You 2.0: Decide Already!

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Episode Highlights

The Power of UncertaintyDan Gilbert explores how uncertainty can amplify emotions, making events more impactful. He discusses why people avoid uncertainty despite its potential to enhance happiness.

The Power of Uncertainty

Surrogation TechniqueDan Gilbert explores the concept of surrogation, where individuals use others' experiences to predict their own future happiness. He highlights how this approach can lead to more accurate decision-making, challenging the belief in the uniqueness of personal experiences.

Surrogation Technique

Predicting HappinessDan Gilbert, a Harvard researcher, discusses why humans struggle to predict future happiness and how this affects decision-making. He reveals that irrevocable decisions often lead to greater satisfaction, challenging the belief that more freedom equates to more happiness.

Predicting Happiness

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