Apr 4, 2017
Roy Baumeister brings the methods of social psychology to bear
on some of life’s deepest philosophical problems. In the
second part of this two part series (see Part
I), we cover the psychology of self-control, evil, sex
differences, and free will. In addition to Roy responding to
the critics of his “ego-depletion” model of self-control, he
also offers some practical strategies to improve willpower for
goal attainment, looking at how successful people set up habits
that deplete less energy. We also speak to him about the four
root causes of violence, looking at research on why perpetrators
commit atrocities, and we discuss his controversial research on sex
differences and some of the ways that society uses men and women
differently. Lastly, we discuss whether humans are special in a way
that makes us exempt from the natural laws of causality. We’re
appreciative of having had the opportunity to speak with Roy
and regardless of whether you agree or disagree with his views (we
encourage diverse perspectives on the show), we hope these two
episodes (this week’s and last
week’s) offer a great deal of value to our listeners. Enjoy the
show and visit thegreatcoursesplus.com/