FitMind: Neuroscience, Meditation & Mental Fitness Training

The FitMind Podcast: Mental Fitness, Neuroscience & Psychology

FitMind: Neuroscience, Meditation & Mental Fitness Training

  • #17: Evolution of the Self - Mark Leary, PhD

#17: Evolution of the Self - Mark Leary, PhD

Tuesday 13th August 2019

Dr. Mark Leary explores the evolution of self-awareness, its benefits, and drawbacks on the FitMind Podcast.
42 minutes
Informative
Thought-provoking
Engaging
Educational
Transformative

About this podcast

The FitMind Podcast: Mental Fitness, Neuroscience & Psychology
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FitMind: Neuroscience, Meditation & Mental Fitness Training
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Mindfulness & Emotional Wellbeing
Mindful Recovery
Mindfulness & Technology in Health
Entrepreneurship for Personal Growth
Innovative Treatments & Recovery Paths
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Self-Awareness: A Double-Edged Sword with Dr. Mark Leary

Self-awareness is what really distinguishes us from all other animals. And a lot of the things that I studied involved people's thoughts about themselves. And so that led me to write a book called the curse of the self, which was an attempt to balance psychology's glorification of self-awareness against its downside, the ways in which self-awareness can be a curse.
Ever wondered why humans are so uniquely self-aware? In this episode of the FitMind Podcast, host Liam McClintock chats with Dr. Mark Leary, a psychology and neuroscience professor at Duke University, to unpack the evolution of self-awareness. Dr. Leary delves into how self-awareness sets us apart from other animals, enabling us to plan for the future and understand others' thoughts.
But it's not all sunshine and rainbows—self-awareness also brings its own set of challenges, like negative self-talk and constant comparisons to others. Dr. Leary offers practical advice on mitigating these downsides through meditation and community focus. If you're curious about the ups and downs of being self-aware and want actionable tips to improve your mental well-being, this episode is a must-listen.