The Things We Don't Say
Summary
Host Shankar Vedant interviews Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker about the social functions of indirect speech, from diplomatic euphemisms to humble bragging. They explore how indirectness maintains relationships and avoids awkwardness, contrasting this with the dangers of radical honesty. The discussion highlights how indirect communication can sometimes lead to tragic consequences, such as in aviation disasters, while often serving as a necessary lubricant for social interaction.
Topics discussed
Introduction: Focus, The Emperor's New Clothes, and Truth to Power
Sponsors: LinkedIn Hiring Pro and Land Rover Defender
Interview: Steve Pinker on Harvard Fundraising and Social Fictions
Bless Your Heart: Indirect Speech and Diplomatic Language
Sponsors: Land Rover Defender and Hidden Brain Intro
Social Fictions: Art Criticism, Diplomacy, and Hot Mic Moments
Humble Bragging and the Paradox of Anonymous Altruism
Innuendo, Plausible Deniability, and Avoiding Rejection
Sponsors: Quince and Strawberry Career Coaching
Radical Honesty vs. Social Lubrication and Bribery
Conclusion, Credits, and Final Sponsors
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