The Edge of Gender

FromHidden Brain

Start listening View podcast show

The Edge of Gender

FromHidden Brain

ratings:

Length:

50 minutes

Released:

Nov 19, 2018

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

Gender is one of the first things we notice about the people around us. But where do our ideas about gender come from? Can gender differences be explained by genes and chromosomes, or are they the result of upbringing, culture and the environment? In this encore episode from October 2017, we delve into debates over nature vs. nurture, and meet the first person in the United States to officially reject the labels of both male and female, and be recognized as "non-binary."

Released:

Nov 19, 2018

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

Shankar Vedantam uses science and storytelling to reveal the unconscious patterns that drive human behavior, shape our choices and direct our relationships.

Skip carousel

Episode 3: Stereotype Threat by Hidden Brain
22 min listen
Welcome to the Hidden Brain Podcast by Hidden Brain
1 min listen
Hidden Brain: A Sneak Peek by Hidden Brain
6 min listen
Brain Bonus: Magic Brain by Hidden Brain
5 min listen
Episode 14: Christmas by Hidden Brain
21 min listen
Episode 2: Near Victories by Hidden Brain
22 min listen
Episode 4: Students and Teachers by Hidden Brain
18 min listen
Episode 17: Resolutions by Hidden Brain
21 min listen
Episode 7: Lonely Hearts by Hidden Brain
33 min listen
Episode 5: Compassion by Hidden Brain
18 min listen
Episode 1: Switchtracking by Hidden Brain
28 min listen
Episode 10: Thanksgiving by Hidden Brain
19 min listen
Episode 19: Dating and Mating by Hidden Brain
22 min listen
Episode 9: Aziz Ansari on Modern Love by Hidden Brain
26 min listen
Episode 6: The Science of Fear by Hidden Brain
20 min listen
Episode 16: Misbehaving by Hidden Brain
23 min listen
Episode 35: Creature Comforts by Hidden Brain
27 min listen
Episode 32: The Scientific Process by Hidden Brain
28 min listen
Episode 11: Forgery by Hidden Brain
23 min listen
Episode 12: Humor by Hidden Brain
20 min listen
Episode 15: Loss and Renewal by Hidden Brain
25 min listen
Episode 8: Back Up Plans by Hidden Brain
24 min listen
Episode 21: Stroke of Genius by Hidden Brain
25 min listen
Encore of Episode 3: Stereotype Threat by Hidden Brain
22 min listen
Episode 30: WOOP, There It Is by Hidden Brain
18 min listen
Episode 37: Smoke & Mirrors by Hidden Brain
23 min listen
Episode 13: Terrorism by Hidden Brain
26 min listen
Episode 40: Silver and Gold by Hidden Brain
22 min listen
Episode 25: Dream Jobs by Hidden Brain
20 min listen
Episode 18: The Paradox of Forgiveness by Hidden Brain
19 min listen

More Episodes from Hidden Brain

Skip carousel

Befriending Your Inner Voice: You know that negative voice that goes round and round in your head, keeping you up at night? When that negative inner voice gets switched on, it’s hard to think about anything else. Psychologist Ethan Kross has a name for it: chatter. In this favorite conversation from 2022, we talk with Ethan about how to keep our negative emotions from morphing into chatter. by Hidden Brain
51 min listen
Making the World Sparkle Again: Across every domain of our lives, our minds have a tendency to get accustomed to things. In fact, the brain seems evolutionarily designed to focus on the new and unexpected, on novel threats and opportunities. In our daily lives, this means we take wonderful things for granted. We cease to appreciate amazing people, or the good fortune of being healthy. This week, neuroscientist Tali Sharot explains why we get used to things — and how to see with fresh eyes. by Hidden Brain
51 min listen
Our God-Shaped Brains: Some think of religious faith as just that: a leap of faith. But psychologists are increasingly filling in the gaps in our understanding of how beliefs shape — and are shaped by — the human mind. This week, psychologist Ara Norenzayan explores features in the brain that are tied to our capacity for faith. And he shows how all of us, both religious and non-religious people, can use this knowledge to find more meaning in our lives. by Hidden Brain
50 min listen
Why You Feel Empty: Have you ever had an unexplainable feeling of emptiness? Life seems perfect - and yet - something is missing. This week, sociologist Corey Keyes helps us understand where feelings of emptiness come from, how to navigate them and why they're more common than we might assume. by Hidden Brain
50 min listen
Why Trying Too Hard Can Backfire On You: Thinking is a human superpower. On a daily basis, thinking and planning and effort bring us innumerable benefits. But like all aspects of human behavior, you can sometimes get too much of a good thing. This week, we talk with philosopher Ted Slingerland about techniques to prevent overthinking, and how we can cultivate the under-appreciated skill of letting go. by Hidden Brain
52 min listen
Innovation 2.0: Do Less: The human drive to invent new things has led to pathbreaking achievements in medicine, science and society. But our desire to create can keep us from seeing one of the most powerful paths to progress: subtraction. In a favorite conversation from 2022, engineer Leidy Klotz shares how streamlining and simplifying is sometimes the best path to innovation. by Hidden Brain
46 min listen
Innovation 2.0: Shortcuts and Speed Bumps: Most of us love to brainstorm with colleagues. But so often, our idea-generating sessions don't lead to anything tangible. Teams fill up walls with sticky notes about creative possibilities and suggestions for improvement, but nothing actually gets implemented. Some researchers even have a name for it: "innovation theater." This week, we explore the science of execution. Psychologist Bob Sutton tells us how to move from innovation theater . . . to actual innovation. by Hidden Brain
49 min listen
Innovation 2.0: The Influence You Have: Think about the last time you asked someone for something. Maybe you were nervous or worried about what the person would think of you. Chances are that you didn’t stop to think about the pressure you were exerting on that person. This week, we continue our Innovation 2.0 series with a 2020 episode about a phenomenon known as as “egocentric bias.” We talk with psychologist Vanessa Bohns about how this bias leads us astray, and how we can use this knowledge to ask for the things we need. by Hidden Brain
52 min listen
Innovation 2.0: Multiplying the Growth Mindset: Have you ever been in a situation where you felt that people wrote you off? Maybe a teacher suggested you weren't talented enough to take a certain class, or a boss implied that you didn't have the smarts needed to handle a big project. In the latest in our "Innovation 2.0 series," we talk with Mary Murphy, who studies what she calls "cultures of genius." We'll look at how these cultures can keep people and organizations from thriving, and how we can create environments that better foster our growth. by Hidden Brain
52 min listen
Innovation 2.0: How Big Ideas Are Born: Why is it so hard to guess where we're meant to be? To predict where we'll end up? Nearly all of us have had the experience of traveling down one road, only to realize it's not the road for us. At the University of Virginia, Saras Sarasvathy uses the lens of entrepreneurship to study how we plan and prepare for the future. We kick off our new "Innovation 2.0" series by talking with Saras about how we pursue goals and make decisions. by Hidden Brain
50 min listen
Parents: Keep Out!: If you're a parent or a teacher, you've probably wondered how to balance play and safety for the kids in your care. You don't want to put children in danger, but you also don't want to rob them of the joy of exploration. This week, we talk with psychologist Peter Gray about how this balance has changed — for parents and children alike — and what we can do about it. by Hidden Brain
54 min listen
The Curious Science of Cravings: We've all had those days when all we want is a little treat. Maybe it's a bag of chips, an ice cream sundae or a glass of wine. But sometimes, these desires become all-consuming. This week on the show, psychiatrist Judson Brewer helps us understand the science of cravings, and how we should respond to them. by Hidden Brain
49 min listen
What Is Normal?: Anthropologist Tom Pearson was devastated after his daughter Michaela was diagnosed with Down syndrome. When he began to examine that emotional response, he found himself wrestling with questions that have roiled his field for decades. Early anthropologists would often compare people of different backgrounds and abilities, asking questions like: How is one group different from another? Which one is stronger or smarter? And how do we understand people who don’t fit our expectations? This week, we talk with Pearson about his family’s story, and the evolution of our thinking on disability and difference. by Hidden Brain
51 min listen
The Transformative Ideas of Daniel Kahneman: If you've ever taken an economics class, you were probably taught that people are rational. But about 50 years ago, the psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky began to chip away at this basic assumption. In doing so, they transformed our understanding of human behavior. This week, we remember Kahneman, who recently died at the age of 90, by revisiting our 2018 and 2021 conversations with him. by Hidden Brain
98 min listen
Are You Listening?: Have you ever sat across from your spouse, colleague or friend and realized that while they may be hearing what you're saying, they aren't actually listening? Poor listening can lead to arguments, hurt feelings, and fractured relationships. But the good news is that active, thoughtful listening can profoundly benefit both people in the conversation. This week on the show, psychologist Guy Itzchakov helps us understand where interactions go awry, and how to become a more attentive listener. by Hidden Brain
50 min listen
$Are You Listening?: Have you ever sat across from your spouse, colleague or friend and realized that while they may be hearing what you're saying, they aren't actually listening? Poor listening can lead to arguments, hurt feelings, and fractured relationships. But the good news is that active, thoughtful listening can profoundly benefit both people in the conversation. This week on the show, psychologist Guy Itzchakov helps us understand where interactions go awry, and how to become a more attentive listener.$
The Ventilator: Many of us believe we know how we’d choose to die. We have a sense of how we’d respond to a diagnosis of an incurable illness. This week, we revisit a 2019 episode featuring one family’s decades-long conversation about dying. What they found is that the people we are when death is far in the distance may not be the people we become when death is near. by Hidden Brain
50 min listen
Escaping the Matrix: A little more than a decade ago, researchers began tracking an alarming trend: a dramatic uptick in anxiety and depression among young Americans. Psychologist Jonathan Haidt, like many other researchers, says the increase is related to our use of social media and devices. But he believes it’s also deeper than that — connected to our deepest moral beliefs and how they shape the way we view the world. He says there are simple steps we can take to improve the mental health of kids growing up in the smartphone era. by Hidden Brain
50 min listen
Fear Less: Fear is a normal and healthy response to things that may harm us. But fear can also hold us back from doing the things we want to do. This week, we talk to psychiatrist and neuroscientist Arash Javanbakht about the psychology of fear — how it helps us, how it hurts us, and what we can do to harness it. by Hidden Brain
52 min listen
US 2.0: Lincoln's Dilemma: Over the past few weeks, we've been exploring the psychology of partisanship, and how to effectively handle disagreements with those around us. This week, we conclude our US 2.0 series by turning to the past. We’ll explore how one of the most important leaders in American history — Abraham Lincoln — grappled with the pressing moral question of his time. When, if ever, is it worth compromising your own principles for the sake of greater progress? by Hidden Brain
52 min listen
US 2.0: Not at the Dinner Table: We typically divide the country into two distinct groups: Democrats and Republicans. But what if the real political divide in our country isn’t between “left” and “right”? What if it’s between those who care intensely about politics, and those who don’t? This week, we bring you a favorite 2020 conversation with political scientist Yanna Krupnikov, who offers an alternative way to understand Americans’ political views. by Hidden Brain
49 min listen
US 2.0: Living With Our Differences: Conflicts are inevitable — both at a global scale and in our personal lives. This week, in the latest in our US 2.0 series, psychologist Peter Coleman explains how minor disagreements turn into major rifts, and how we can defuse even the most salient of disputes in our lives. by Hidden Brain
53 min listen
US 2.0: Win Hearts, Then Minds: There's a saying that's attributed to the Dalai Lama: in the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher. It's a nice idea, but in reality, when people don't share our values, it's hard for us to tolerate theirs. This week, we talk with sociologist Robb Willer about the common mistakes we make in trying to persuade others of our point of view — and how we can break out of our echo chambers. by Hidden Brain
49 min listen
US 2.0: What We Have In Common: The United States, we’re told, is increasingly a house divided. Conservatives and progressives are so alienated from each other that conversation is virtually impossible. But are we really as divided as we’re led to believe? As we begin what promises to be a pivotal election season, we're kicking off a new series about how we form our political beliefs. We're calling it "US 2.0." We begin with psychologist Kurt Gray, who studies how we think about our political allies and opponents — and how these insights can help us to chart a new path forward. by Hidden Brain
51 min listen
Are Your Memories Real?: We rely on our memory to understand the world. But what if our memories aren't true? This week, we talk to psychologist Elizabeth Loftus about the malleability of memory — what we remember, and what we think we remember. by Hidden Brain
50 min listen
Finding Focus: We spend more and more of our lives staring at screens. Our cellphones, smartwatches and laptops allow us to communicate instantly with people across the globe, and quickly look up obscure facts. But our digital devices are also altering our brains in profound ways. This week, psychologist Gloria Mark explores how our ability to focus is shrinking, and offers ways to protect our minds in a world filled with endless distractions. by Hidden Brain
48 min listen
Where Do Feelings Come From?: Most of us feel that our emotions are reactions to those outside of us. Someone cuts us off in traffic, and we say that the other driver made us upset. A friend brings over food when we're sick, and we say the friend offered us comfort. But psychologist and neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett argues that our feelings are not, in fact, responses to the world — they're really predictions about the world. And she says we can exercise more control over those predictions than we realize. by Hidden Brain
50 min listen
Making the Most of Your Mistakes: When we're learning, or trying new things, mistakes are inevitable. Some of these mistakes provide us with valuable information, while others are just harmful. This week, we kick off the new year with researcher Amy Edmondson, who explains the difference between constructive failures and those we should try to avoid. by Hidden Brain
52 min listen
What Would Socrates Do?: Humans have wrestled with questions about identity and purpose for millennia. So it’s no surprise that the insights of people who lived hundreds or even thousands of years ago have stood the test of time. This week, philosopher Tamar Gendler explores how three great thinkers from ancient Greece understood the human psyche, and what we can still learn from their wisdom today. by Hidden Brain
50 min listen
How to Believe in Yourself: When was the last time you set a goal and struggled to reach it? Perhaps you're trying to write a novel but can't seem to get started. Or maybe you want to master a sport, but you keep making the same mistakes over and over again. This week, organizational psychologist Adam Grant guides us through the science of human potential, and teaches us how to uncover our own abilities. by Hidden Brain
50 min listen
The Ugly Side of Beauty: We like to tell kids, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” But from a very early age, we humans are doing just that — judging others based on how they look. This week, we bring you the second part of our look at the science of beauty and talk with psychologists Vivian Zayas and Stefanie Johnson about how appearances can often lead us astray. by Hidden Brain
51 min listen

Related podcast episodes

Skip carousel

The Edge of Gender by Hidden Brain
50 min listen
#900 - Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria: Parents’ Perspectives: This topic is volatile, contested, heated, controversial, and incredibly important. In this episode, I talk to three different moms whose teenage kids experienced ROGD. by Theology in the Raw
20 min listen
How to Spot Pseudoscience About Sex Differences (w/ Cordelia Fine) by Current Affairs
51 min listen
S2 E4: Understanding the Difference Between Race and Racism by Top of Mind with Julie Rose
53 min listen
"What Is A Woman" with Rev. Dr. Marlin Lavanhar: Are you ever afraid you might say the wrong thing or ask the wrong question? Do you wonder what to think about current debates, such as the ones about Transgender issues? Are you unsure where and when you can raise your concerns and receive a... by All Souls Unitarian Church
27 min listen
Does talking about race make you racist? by The Embrace Race Podcast
41 min listen
RUTH INSTITUTE RESISTANCE: Gender Ideology: Dr J Show by The Ruth Institute Podcast
69 min listen
'There Are Parents Suffering': 'Dead Name' Filmmaker's Powerful Quest to Give Voice to Parents of Trans-Identifying Kids by Generation Indoctrination: Inside the Transgender Battle
34 min listen
Steven Pinker: The Blank Slate 20+ years later: Twenty-one years ago, was published. A finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, The Blank Slate firmly established Pinker as one of the major public intellectuals in 21st-century America; it followed earlier works more narrowly... by Razib Khan's Unsupervised Learning
67 min listen
How to Raise an Anti-Racist Child by Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption & Foster Care
68 min listen
Episode 109 Ben Hicks & the polemic divide: Jon Haidt & Ernest Becker by Everyone's Agnostic Podcast
91 min listen
Pride Rewind: Gender Reveal Parties by American Hysteria
45 min listen
We See Each Other with Tre'vell Anderson by NOW - No Opportunity Wasted with Angelica Ross
56 min listen
350: Ibram X. Kendi on Being an Antiracist by The One You Feed
33 min listen
If You’re Reading This, You’re Probably ‘WEIRD’: Here’s a little experiment. Take a second to think about how you would fill in the blank in this sentence: “I am _____.” If you’re anything like me, the first descriptors that come to mind are personal attributes (like “curious” or “kind”) or identities (like “a journalist” or “a runner”). And if you answered that way, then I have some news for you: You are weird. I mean that in a very specific way. In social science, WEIRD is an acronym that stands for Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich and Democratic. Most societies in the world today — and throughout human history — don’t fit that description. And when people from non-WEIRD cultures answer the “I am” statement, they tend to give very different answers, defining themselves with relation-based descriptors like “Moe’s father” or “David’s brother.” That difference is only the tip of the iceberg. Much of what we take for granted as basic elements of human psychology and ethics are by The Ezra Klein Show
72 min listen
108 REAIR SUMMER - Abigail Marsh: Surprising Predictors of Everyday Kindness by Stanford Psychology Podcast
48 min listen
Are “racist" kids necessarily raised by “racist” parents? (Part 2) by The Embrace Race Podcast
36 min listen
Episode 173 Sexual Misconduct: Elliot & Lauren by Everyone's Agnostic Podcast
147 min listen
The Respondent w/ Bret Weinstein and Greg Ellis (full interview) by The Respondent
71 min listen
Ep 196: Do Genetics Determine Teens’ Behavior?: Jesse Prinz, author of Beyond Human Nature, joins us to discuss the role of both nature and nurture in teens’ development. He explains why we shouldn’t attribute teens’ abilities to biology, and shares the significance of both parental and peer influence by Talking To Teens: Expert Tips for Parenting Teenagers
33 min listen
The Truthful Research The LGBT Couldn't Tolerate: Dr J Show by The Ruth Institute Podcast
46 min listen
#922 - The Stability of Scandalous Adoration: Dr. Greg Coles: The Podcast of Preston Sprinkle by Theology in the Raw
20 min listen
Alice Dreger || Fuzzy Categories by The Psychology Podcast
63 min listen
Trauma, learning differences, and kids of color: Societal trauma, like school shootings and racial injustice, have become all too commonplace in our kids’ lives. It’s tough for families to help any child process the feelings that come along with these traumatic events. And it can be extra challenging for families of kids of color with learning and thinking differences like ADHD. In this episode of “The Opportunity Gap,” we explore trauma: its causes, how to identify it, and how it impacts us. Listen as Dr. Kristin Carothers, a clinical psychologist, explains: —How trauma shows up in kids’ behavior —Supports for parents and educators of kids of color —Tips for talking to your child Understood.org is a nonprofit focused on shaping the world for difference so the millions of people with learning and thinking differences can thrive. Learn more about “The Opportunity Gap” and all our podcasts at u.org/podcasts. Copyright © 2023 Understood for All, Inc. All rights reserved. by The Opportunity Gap
31 min listen
On Masculine & Feminine with Dr. Erika Czerwinski Part 1 – Ep. 201: In this episode of Next Level Human Podcast, Dr. Jade welcomes Dr. Erika Czerwinski, who is a psychologist based in Asheville, NC, to discuss the differences and similarities between masculine and feminine. We as whole human beings have both sides... by Next Level Human
58 min listen
Religious Literacy: Ernie Rea and guests discuss what makes a religiously literate society. by Beyond Belief
28 min listen
129: Fuzzy Categories: Alice Dreger by The Psychology Podcast
63 min listen
How Trans Ideology Twists Language to Distort Reality by Generation Indoctrination: Inside the Transgender Battle
16 min listen
82. The psychology of emotional unavailability by The Psychology of your 20s
40 min listen
EP 144: “Our Search for Belonging: How Our Need to Connect Is Tearing Us Apart" with Howard Ross: “If you’re treated a certain way you become a cer… by The Innovation Show
55 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

The Edge of Gender

The Edge of Gender

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from Hidden Brain

Related podcast episodes