January 5, 2015

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Todd Kashdan on dancing with the dark side of your personality

Psychologist Dr. Todd Kashdan shares some unconventional research on how we can harness "negative" psychological characteristics to live whole, successful and fulfilling lives.

By Scott Barry Kaufman

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This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

Psychologist Dr. Todd Kashdan shares some unconventional research on how we can harness “negative” psychological characteristics to live whole, successful and fulfilling lives. Topics include the dark triad, emotional experimentation, mindfulness, education, evolution and what it means to live well.

In this episode you will hear about:

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  • How feelings like anxiety, jealousy and selfishness can be beneficial

  • The functional value of exploring different emotional experiences

  • Scott and Todd’s campaign to encourage being “your authentic pissed off self”!

  • Louis C.K. and the science of bonding over things you shouldn’t say

  • How open monitoring meditation aids creativity

  • How to find happiness

  • Cultural perspectives on our “darker” side

  • How social media demotivates

  • How acknowledging vulnerability and nervousness can make for better outcomes

  • Evolutionary reasoning behind the need for our dark side

  • How we all display certain characteristics of darker traits in our daily routines

  • How the education system can be improved by encouraging mind-wandering

  • Positive and negative elements of narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy

  • “The false nose of happiness” and how to think about the good life

  • How expecting and preparing for the worst can make you perform at your best

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“A recognized authority on well-being and social relationships, Dr. Todd Kashdan has published more than 150 scholarly articles and is the author of Curious? Discover the Missing Ingredient to a Fulfilling Life and his latest book, The Upside of Your Dark Side: Why being your whole self - not just your “good” self - drives success and fulfillment . His research has been featured in several media outlets, including the New York Times and The Washington Post.” –Blurb taken from Todd’s Huffington post page

 

Scott Barry Kaufman is a humanistic psychologist exploring the depths of human potential. He has taught courses on intelligence, creativity and well-being at Columbia University, N.Y.U., the University of Pennsylvania, and elsewhere. He hosts the Psychology Podcast and is author and/or editor of nine books, including Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization, Wired to Create: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind (with Carolyn Gregoire), and Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined. Find out more at http://ScottBarryKaufman.com. In 2015 he was named one of "50 groundbreaking scientists who are changing the way we see the world" by Business Insider. He wrote the extremely popular Beautiful Minds blog for Scientific American for close to a decade. Follow him on X.

More by Scott Barry Kaufman

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