The Surprising Science of Human Goodness | Psychologist, Dr. Jamil Zaki

Finding Mastery with Dr. Michael Gervais

There's an age-old question: Are humans fundamentally good or evil? Are we hardwired towards greed and cynicism... or towards compassion and goodness?

Our guest today, Dr. Jamil Zaki, is a leading psychologist and empathy researcher who has dedicated his career to exploring this question. He believes that humans are fundamentally good – and he has the science to back it up.

Jamil is at the forefront of research at Stanford's Social Neuroscience Lab, where he's exploring how we understand emotions, conform to social norms, and choose to do good.

Cynicism is on the rise in the United States, and Jamil refers to this rising tide as a disease. But the good news? There is hope for a cure.

His latest book, Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness, lays out a practical roadmap to transform cynicism into hopeful skepticism—an approach that could make our world a better place.

In this conversation, we dive deep into actionable strategies to build trust and empathy, like "social savoring" and "positive gossip." If you’re looking to create lasting positive change in your life and those around you, this episode is for you.

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