Episode Details

From the book, The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It by Kelly McGonigal, Ph.D., which focuses on the science of self-control. The book, stemming from a popular Stanford University course, explores neuroscience, psychology, and evolution to explain the mechanisms of willpower, temptation, and habit formation. Key topics include the role of the prefrontal cortex (illustrated by the famous case of Phineas Gage), the concept of "moral licensing"where good behavior gives permission for later indulgence, and strategies for boosting willpower through meditation, sleep, and exercise. The author also examines the counterproductive nature of thought suppression (ironic rebound) and the pervasive influence of a social network on individual willpower challenges.