Wiser audiobook cover - The Scientific Roots of Wisdom, Compassion, and What Makes Us Good

Wiser

The Scientific Roots of Wisdom, Compassion, and What Makes Us Good

Dilip Jeste with Scott LaFee

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Categories:
SciencePhilosophy

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Wiser
Neuroscience & Aging+
Core Components of Wisdom+
Practices to Grow Wiser+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 8
According to neuroscience, how does the amygdala's response to stimuli change as people age, contributing to emotional harmony?
  • A. It becomes less responsive to all emotional stimuli, creating a numbing effect.
  • B. It becomes less responsive to upsetting stimuli but remains sensitive to uplifting ones.
  • C. It shrinks in size, completely eliminating the experience of negative emotions like fear.
  • D. It shifts its functions entirely to the prefrontal cortex to process emotions more logically.
Question 2 of 8
What does research suggest is a highly effective, everyday method for increasing empathy and building pro-social feelings?
  • A. Engaging in competitive sports.
  • B. Solving complex mathematical puzzles.
  • C. Habitually reading fictional stories.
  • D. Minimizing social interactions to focus on self-reflection.
Question 3 of 8
Why are teenagers generally more impulsive and reckless compared to older adults?
  • A. Their prefrontal cortex develops faster than their limbic system, causing overconfidence.
  • B. Their limbic system, which favors risk and reward, temporarily outpaces the development of the prefrontal cortex.
  • C. Their mirror neurons are highly active, causing them to blindly imitate the risky behaviors of their peers.
  • D. Their amygdala is highly sensitive to uplifting stimuli but completely unresponsive to negative consequences.
Question 4 of 8
What does the Aristotelian concept of 'phronesis' refer to in the context of wisdom?
  • A. The ability to suppress all emotions to make purely rational choices.
  • B. Abstract, theoretical wisdom that relies on philosophical reasoning.
  • C. The biological shift of brain activity from the back of the brain to the front.
  • D. Down-to-earth know-how that demonstrates good judgment and real-world decision-making.
Question 5 of 8
According to a 2014 study, why do people often show more wisdom when advising a friend than when making decisions for themselves?
  • A. They feel a stronger sense of superiority over their friends.
  • B. They possess greater emotional distance from the situation.
  • C. They rely more on their limbic system when thinking about others.
  • D. They are less afraid of the unpredictable nature of the future.
Question 6 of 8
Which part of the brain is primarily responsible for self-evaluation and introspection, and can lead to a loss of self-awareness if it deteriorates?
  • A. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)
  • B. The amygdala
  • C. The limbic system
  • D. The mirror neuron network
Question 7 of 8
How did older adults benefit from being paired with elementary school students in a 2015 study by USC and Johns Hopkins University?
  • A. They demonstrated increased mirror neuron activity compared to the children.
  • B. They experienced heightened emotional homeostasis by suppressing negative memories.
  • C. They experienced increased generativity, which is a concern for younger generations.
  • D. They improved their theoretical wisdom by teaching abstract concepts.
Question 8 of 8
What actionable technique involves putting a lid on runaway emotions by reinterpreting an upsetting situation in a more rational, less-upsetting way?
  • A. Lovingkindness meditation
  • B. Emotional homeostasis
  • C. Cognitive reappraisal
  • D. Introspective journaling

Wiser — Full Chapter Overview

Wiser Summary & Overview

Wiser (2020) combines a scientific approach to wisdom with practical tips on how to grow wiser today. Drawing on decades of research and cutting-edge studies, it pairs explanation and advice in its investigation of compassion, aging, decision-making, and more.

Who Should Listen to Wiser?

  • Busy twenty-first-century folk hungry for old-fashioned wisdom
  • Amateur scientists interested in discovering more about the brain
  • People who want to get wise before they get old

About the Author: Dilip Jeste with Scott LaFee

Dilip Jeste is a neuropsychiatrist who has spent more than two decades studying the components of wisdom and the aging process. He is a professor of psychiatry and neuroscience at the University of California San Diego and was formerly president of the American Psychiatric Association.

Scott LaFee is the director of communications and media relations for University of California San Diego Health and Health Sciences. He is a former science writer and editor at the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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