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Mindbloggling

Current ideas about cultural evolution and the creative processes that power it.

Creativity
Catalyzing Creative Cultural Change

Liane Gabora Ph.D. on April 12, 2024

Social learning and individual learning play similar roles; they transmit existing knowledge and catalyze the creative generation of new knowledge and, thereby, cultural change.

Social learning and individual learning play similar roles; they transmit existing knowledge and catalyze the creative generation of new knowledge and, thereby, cultural change.

Creativity
Why Creativity Is Distinct From Individual Learning

Liane Gabora Ph.D. on April 11, 2024

To build the cultural equivalent of evolutionary trees, it is necessary to distinguish the individual learning of existing information from the creation of new information.

To build the cultural equivalent of evolutionary trees, it is necessary to distinguish the individual learning of existing information from the creation of new information.

Creativity
Creative Thinking, Familiarity, and Quantum Models

Liane Gabora Ph.D. on January 9, 2024

We use a strange yet well-established phenomenon—that people's answers depend on the order of the questions—to determine whether quantum math is needed to model creative thought.

We use a strange yet well-established phenomenon—that people's answers depend on the order of the questions—to determine whether quantum math is needed to model creative thought.

Cross-Cultural Psychology
Documenting Cultural Lineages

Liane Gabora Ph.D. on December 30, 2023

By entering your own actions and ideas, you’ll see how they pave the way for other cultural developments, and see where they fit into the interwoven tapestry of human achievements.

By entering your own actions and ideas, you’ll see how they pave the way for other cultural developments, and see where they fit into the interwoven tapestry of human achievements.

Evolutionary Psychology
The Ultimate Meaning of Life: Leaving a Legacy

Liane Gabora Ph.D. on November 8, 2023

One hundred thousand years ago, cultural evolution became cumulative when human minds acquired an integrated network structure. This happens anew in every child's mind.

One hundred thousand years ago, cultural evolution became cumulative when human minds acquired an integrated network structure. This happens anew in every child's mind.

Evolutionary Psychology
The Ultimate Meaning of Life

Liane Gabora Ph.D. on November 6, 2023

The desire to leave a cultural legacy is neither innate nor learned; it emerges from within during the first few years of life as memories coalesce into an integrated network.

The desire to leave a cultural legacy is neither innate nor learned; it emerges from within during the first few years of life as memories coalesce into an integrated network.

Artificial Intelligence
How to Get From 'AI Tools’ to ‘AI Selves’

Liane Gabora Ph.D. on December 27, 2022

Until artificial intelligence possesses autocatalytic structure, it isn't a "self." It may be creative, but it's merely a tool, and its creativity is but an expression of us.

Until artificial intelligence possesses autocatalytic structure, it isn't a "self." It may be creative, but it's merely a tool, and its creativity is but an expression of us.

Psychology
Can Psychology Tell Us About Someone’s Essence?

Liane Gabora Ph.D. on November 22, 2022

When someone crosses your mind, how do you know it’s them you’re thinking of? It’s likely something more abstract than their appearance: the feeling they evoke.

When someone crosses your mind, how do you know it’s them you’re thinking of? It’s likely something more abstract than their appearance: the feeling they evoke.

Memory
Why I Don't Believe in Bucket Lists

Liane Gabora Ph.D. on October 27, 2022

Whatever is on your mind affects what part of the new experience you pay attention to, how you react to it, how it gets etched into your memory, and how you derive meaning from it.

Whatever is on your mind affects what part of the new experience you pay attention to, how you react to it, how it gets etched into your memory, and how you derive meaning from it.

Art by Liane Gabora
Environment
How a Land Inhabits Its People

Liane Gabora Ph.D. on October 15, 2022

Acknowledging a land’s previous inhabitants may reinforce the notion that what matters about a land is the humans that inhabit it.

Acknowledging a land’s previous inhabitants may reinforce the notion that what matters about a land is the humans that inhabit it.

Environment
Why Is Eric Weinstein So Popular?

Liane Gabora Ph.D. on April 26, 2021

The faster the environment changes, the more quickly our worldviews must evolve to keep up. Exposure to people with self-made worldviews can inspire others to find their voice.

The faster the environment changes, the more quickly our worldviews must evolve to keep up. Exposure to people with self-made worldviews can inspire others to find their voice.

Openness
Standup Comedy Technique #2: Parody and the Lure of the Forbidden

Liane Gabora Ph.D. on November 23, 2019

"I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to be driving drunk while you’re flying on acid."  Freud suggested that humor enables forbidden material to transform into something acceptable.

"I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to be driving drunk while you’re flying on acid."  Freud suggested that humor enables forbidden material to transform into something acceptable.

Humor
Standup Comedy Technique #1: Exaggeration

Liane Gabora Ph.D. on August 26, 2019

One of the psychology of humor methods employed here is exaggeration: you start with something for which there's a grain of truth, and pull it to some ridiculous extreme.

One of the psychology of humor methods employed here is exaggeration: you start with something for which there's a grain of truth, and pull it to some ridiculous extreme.

Creativity
Voyage to the Land Below Thought

Liane Gabora Ph.D. on July 1, 2019

The transition from not being able to do something to being able to do it after a single night’s sleep can bring a deep, essential part of yourself into the foreground.

The transition from not being able to do something to being able to do it after a single night’s sleep can bring a deep, essential part of yourself into the foreground.

Race and Ethnicity
Are Accusations of Cultural Appropriation Misguided?

Liane Gabora Ph.D. on April 29, 2017

When Newton said he saw further by standing on the shoulders of giants what mattered was that he assimilated these 'giants' ideas perhaps more deeply than their own biological kin.

When Newton said he saw further by standing on the shoulders of giants what mattered was that he assimilated these 'giants' ideas perhaps more deeply than their own biological kin.

Humor
Toward a Quantum Model of Humor

Liane Gabora Ph.D. on April 6, 2017

The bisociation of incongruous frames or word meanings in jokes is modelled as a linear superposition of basis states, or possible interpretations, in a complex Hilbert space.

The bisociation of incongruous frames or word meanings in jokes is modelled as a linear superposition of basis states, or possible interpretations, in a complex Hilbert space.

Creativity
Creativity, Space Flight & the United (Or Un-United) States

Liane Gabora Ph.D. on November 7, 2016

Artworks from Earth could make astronauts homesick. But robots that generate artistic works in situ would not only provide fun and diversion but help forge a collective memory.

Artworks from Earth could make astronauts homesick. But robots that generate artistic works in situ would not only provide fun and diversion but help forge a collective memory.

Scent
Is There a Physical Basis to the Notion of "Spirit"?

Liane Gabora Ph.D. on October 26, 2016

The feeling bears leave you with has little to do with how smart they are, or their demeanor. It’s more a sense of the essential life force they emanate from, corny as that sounds.

The feeling bears leave you with has little to do with how smart they are, or their demeanor. It’s more a sense of the essential life force they emanate from, corny as that sounds.

Creativity
The Silver Lining Around Fearful Living

Liane Gabora Ph.D. on February 7, 2015

One good thing about fear, other than it stops you from doing stupid, dangerous stuff, is that can hold you back from learning the facts inside out, which may help keep that creatively inspiring sense of wonder and possibility alive.

One good thing about fear, other than it stops you from doing stupid, dangerous stuff, is that can hold you back from learning the facts inside out, which may help keep that creatively inspiring sense of wonder and possibility alive.