Can Empathy Lead Us Astray? A Conversation with Paul Bloom

This episode of the BEworks Conversation series features a discussion with Paul Bloom, Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor of Psychology & Cognitive Science, Yale University

Paul Bloom, PhD, is the author of How Pleasure Works and Against Empathy. “Empathy” with clients and customers is at times put on a pedestal by businesses, but Bloom’s research shows that at times, empathy can lead to bias. He has written for The Atlantic, The New Yorker, and The New York Times, and his TED talks have over 3 million views.

In this conversation, Paul and Kelly Discuss
• How empathy can lead us astray
• The misperception that science equals certainty
• The ethics of persuasion
• Altruism and competing motivations during a pandemic
• Good (and bad) habits created during lockdown

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Introducing BEworks Conversations, featuring exclusive discussions with the world’s leading behavioral scientists. Kelly and her guests discuss a range of topics, featuring:

• Jonathan Howard on Medical Decision Making
• Dan Ariely on returning to work after shelter in place
• Barbara Kahn on Consumer Loyalty
• On Amir on Consumer Behavior during the pandemic
• Nina Mazar on Ethics and Compliance
• And many more

We hope you will join us on this journey.