Can we condition ourselves to become heroes?
Neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky on the science of temptation, and the limitations of your brain’s frontal cortex.
Ever hear the expression “it’s all in your mind”?
According to Robert Sapolsky all the negativity in the world might all be coming from one part of the brain: the frontal cortex.
The science of temptation runs parallel to the science of why people make “bad” decisions.
Sapolsky explains how active the frontal cortex can be in some people when they have the opportunity to do a bad thing… and how calm it can be in other people when presented with a similar situation.
Performing full-frontal lobotomies on the world’s population to rid the world of negativity isn’t exactly in the cards—but understanding the basis of the world’s problems on a scientific (not to mention cranial level) might help make future generations much more adept at stopping humanity’s biggest mistakes.