Published Oct 5, 2020

The Logic of Rage

Explore the evolutionary roots and dual nature of rage with Shankar Vedantam and neuroscientist R. Douglas Fields, revealing how this primal instinct both overrides logic in crisis to ensure survival and enforces social norms, despite its potential for personal harm.

Episode Highlights

Topics covered

Episode Highlights

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Dexa/Shankar Vedantam

The Logic of Rage

Topics covered

Popular Clips

A Year of Reflection

The Nature of Rage

Defiance in Crisis

Primal Instincts

Unseen Triggers

The Cost of Rage

Unexpected Confrontation

Unconscious Aggression

The Spark of Change

Robbery and Rage

The Power of Rage

The Power of Rage

Decoy Wallet Dilemma

The Logic of Rage

Unexpected Heroics

Episode Highlights

Instinctual Rage

Social Norm Enforcement

Evolutionary Explanations

Related Episodes

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The Logic of Rage

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Encore of Episode 13: Terrorism

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The Logic of Rage

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Episode Highlights

Instinctual RageThe episode explores how primal instincts and unexpected heroics emerge in moments of crisis, driven by the brain's rapid response mechanisms. These reactions, often bypassing logical thought, highlight the evolutionary design prioritizing survival.

Instinctual Rage

Social Norm Enforcement

Evolutionary ExplanationsNeuroscientist R. Douglas Fields examines the brain's role in triggering rage, a survival response that can override logic. Through personal stories and historical events, the episode uncovers the hidden logic behind seemingly irrational anger.

Evolutionary Explanations

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