Big Think

"It's a true fact, but a bizarre one, that the reason why hundreds of thousands of people died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki rather than Kyoto and Kokura, is because of a 19-year-old vacation and a passing cloud."

00:00:00 Chance, chaos, and why everything we do matters

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*Big Think* brings together the world’s leading minds to explore the questions that matter most. From philosophy and science to psychology, technology, and beyond, it challenges conventional wisdom and encourages critical thinking. Through expert insights and bold ideas, *Big Think* pushes the boundaries of knowledge, helping audiences navigate complex topics with clarity and curiosity. Whether questioning the nature of reality, exploring human potential, or seeking practical solutions for a better future, *Big Think* delivers thought-provoking conversations that inspire action and deeper understanding.

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Psychopathy is actually a spectrum, and care is the variable that differentiates true psychopaths from highly empathetic people. Here’s why that matters, and how it can be treated, according to Professor Abigail Marsh.

Humans are among the most altruistic species that we’ve studied, due to our alloparental instincts – a trait we evolved into that allows us to care for offspring who are not our own. Across species, the ones who alloparent the most appear to be the most altruistic. Very altruistic people seem to be the opposite of those who are psychopathic in terms of their neural structure, neural function, and characteristic emotional traits.

Science has been studying psychopathy for decades, but only more recently have we been identifying the basic neurocognitive building blocks of those deficits in psychopathy, says Abigail Marsh, PhD.

Here, Marsh explains how the psychopathic break is different, early warning signs that may indicate a lack of empathy, and how psychopathy can be treated.

Timestamps:

0:00 - The psychopathy spectrum

1:08 - An alloparental species

2:32 - The physiology of psychopathy

5:53 - The lateral prefrontal cortex

6:29 - Treating psychopathy

About Abigail Marsh:

Abigail Marsh is a Professor in the Department of Psychology and the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program at Georgetown University. She received her PhD in Social Psychology from Harvard University in 2004.

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“We know that as little as 10 minutes of walking can improve your mood, getting that bubble bath with the dopamine, serotonin, endorphins going. Anybody can do that.”

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"If we're related to every living thing on the planet, do we not have a special responsibility for every living thing on this planet? They are really all our relatives."

Chapters:

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“Most of us aren't sure what to think about everything, but we don't really see that modeled anywhere, right? You're supposed to know for sure, and there's very little intellectual humility on social media or on TV.”

**"How Political Division is Ripping Us Apart—And the Simple Fix"**

Why do we turn every debate into *good vs. Evil*? In times of anxiety, humans crave certainty, forcing the world into rigid camps of "us" and "them." But what if that’s an illusion? In this eye-opening discussion, we uncover the hidden forces fueling division—social media distortion, political “conflict entrepreneurs,” and our own psychological biases.

Turns out, most people *aren’t* as extreme as they seem. But misunderstanding breeds hate, and hate breeds chaos. The good news? There's a proven antidote: real relationships with people who think differently. When we see each other *as we really are*, the walls start to crumble.

Today, you see it among many, many millions of people because there's a lot of anxiety about the future and fear about the present. We assume that the other side is more extreme than it is, partly because we hear so much from them. 95% of political tweets are written by around 10% of users, so we extrapolate and assume everyone on the other side thinks a certain way.

So, are we being manipulated into conflict? And more importantly—can we break free? This episode holds the answers.

About Amanda Ripley:Amanda Ripley is a New York Times bestselling author, Washington Post contributor, and co-founder of consultancy firm, Good Conflict. Her books include The Smartest Kids in the World, High Conflict, and The Unthinkable.

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“The voice in your head is not you. You are listening to that voice. It’s a heckler, trying to make you feel bad.”

### **Key Takeaways**

1. **Success is built on boring work** – NBA stars train for hours on fundamentals like pivoting. Mastery comes from repetition, not just talent.

2. **The FEE Formula** – **Focus** (100% attention), **Effort** (full intensity), **Execution** (perfect practice). Skill grows through **deliberate** effort.

3. **Failure = Proof of Ambition** – If you’ve never been "dunked on," you’re playing too safe. Setbacks are part of growth.

4. **Silence Your Inner Critic** – Negative self-talk is just a "Frankenstein’s monster" of past doubts. Challenge it: *"Why do you say that?"*

5. **You Can’t Succeed Alone** – Build a tribe that pushes you. John’s family kept him accountable during his NBA journey.

### **Actionable Insight**

- **Love the process, not just the outcome**. Greatness is a stack of small, disciplined actions.

*(Host: John Amaechi | NBA Psychologist)*

**Want more?** Follow **Big Think** for mindset-shifting ideas. 🚀

About John Amaechi:

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From a young age, we’re taught that being alone means something’s wrong with us 😔 — that the person sitting by themselves is a *loner*. We absorb this belief early, and it shapes how we see others… and ourselves.

But here’s the truth:

🔍 **Loneliness isn’t a flaw — it’s a signal.**

It’s not *who* you are. It’s *what* you need. 🧭

👋 I’m Kasley Killam, author of *The Art and Science of Connection* and an expert in **social health** — the often-overlooked third pillar of wellness, alongside physical 🏃 and mental health 🧠.

When we feel lonely:

- 🤯 We overthink social situations

- 😟 We assume people won’t like us

- 🛡️ We enter interactions guarded

That mindset creates a loop:

🔁 Negative belief → anxious behavior → shallow connection

But it can go the other way too:

💪 Self-trust → openness → meaningful relationships 🤝

🧘‍♀️ **Self-compassion meditation** can help.

It’s about redirecting the love you give others — toward *yourself*.

That inner safety helps you become more vulnerable, and research shows vulnerability builds **trust and emotional intimacy**. 💞

🌍 Culture also plays a role:

- In *individualistic* societies, people feel lonelier 😶‍🌫️, but have more freedom to branch out 🌱

- In *collectivist* cultures, loneliness clashes with expectations — leading to poorer health outcomes ⚠️

And yes, loneliness affects the body:

- 🧬 Raises cortisol

- 🔥 Increases inflammation

- 🛡️ Weakens the immune system

Want to reconnect? Try this:

✅ Help someone

✅ Volunteer

✅ Show up for others (and yourself) 💗

Your social life literally rewires your brain 🧠⚡

It shapes how you process pain, respond to stress, and experience joy 🎉

💡 **Loneliness is just one sign of poor social health.**

Whether you feel it or not —

👉 *everyone* needs connection

👉 *everyone* should prioritize their social well-being

And it all starts with the most important connection of all:

✨ The one you have with yourself 💖

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**How You’ll Really React in a Disaster (And How to Survive)**

You think you know how you'd handle a life-or-death crisis—but the truth is, most of us *freeze, delay, or deny* reality when disaster strikes. In this eye-opening episode, we uncover the hidden forces shaping your "disaster personality" and why survival isn't just about bravery—it’s about *preparation and mindset*.

From the shocking psychology behind why people ignore alarms to the real reason heroes emerge, we break down the phases of crisis response and how you can train your brain to act *before it’s too late*.

Because in a real emergency, hesitation kills. Are you ready?

"Humans, like most mammals, tend to shut down in really frightening situations for which they have no training or prior experience. Researchers call it negative panic. People do nothing. They shut down."

We all have ideas about how we're gonna behave in a crisis or emergency, but it’s almost never how it actually plays out when we’re faced with a disaster situation, says bestselling author Amanda Ripley. In fact, you have another personality – a ‘disaster personality’ – and it's helpful to understand what it is before you are forced to embody it. Studying human behavior in different disasters across history reveals a huge spectrum of responses. Sometimes people start hysterically screaming, others shut down. Some laugh in the face of a life or death situation. In Ripley’s book, "The Unthinkable," the author followed people who had survived disasters of all kinds, and found that there's a pattern, even across very different contexts, from plane crashes to earthquakes. Almost always, people go through a period of certain emotions. Do you want to learn how to master your disaster response before facing a crisis? Ripley explains how. Timestamps: 00:00: The psychology of surviving a crisis01:20: The crisis pattern01:52: Denial03:06: Deliberation04:54: The decisive moment

About Amanda Ripley:Amanda Ripley is a New York Times bestselling author, Washington Post contributor, and co-founder of consultancy firm, Good Conflict. Her books include The Smartest Kids in the World, High Conflict, and The Unthinkable.

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