The Righteous Mind | Jonathan Haidt | Talks at Google

Source

"Mystical experiences are an off button for self. When self is 'off' a person becomes a cell in a larger body."

1. Intuitions come first, strategic reason second
2. There's more to morality than harm and fairness
3. Morality binds and blinds

Selfish: Our mind has many mechanisms that make us adept at promoting our own interests, in competition with our peers.

Varieties of Religious experiences/Self transcendent experiences

• Loss of worry
• Joy and peace
• World looks new and beautiful
• Moral commitment, desire to serve

Different methods to get it

• Meditation
• Psychedelics

Hive method of co-operation

• No competition within the hive
• Able to function as a 'super-organism'
• Yields massive efficiency

Synchronized physical movement is found to be a psychological 'hive' sync. Think dances, religious motions, Army drills etc. This will bind teams more closely.

Benefits of hivishness

1. Higher Social Capital: Higher Productivity and flexibility
2. Higher Employee moral: Lower costs(Lower turnover, less litigation, better recruiting and retention)

Costs/Risks of Hivishness

1. Too much time hiving -> Lower productivity
2. Love of group -> less concern for other stakeholders(?)
3. More Loyalty -> More cover-ups, more pressure on whistle blowers(?)
4. More Group think(or more trust and hence freedom to diverge)

How to grow a hive

1. SHared fate, shared sacrifice
2. Free riders should be punished and quickly. Generally this is done thru gossip - which is a positive thing in hivish orgs.
3. Heightened similarity(Uniform, commonalties)
4. Moving together/synchrony
5. Healthy Competition
6. Noble Mission

Leader Behavior

• Must be worthy of respect, admiration, and awe
• Impartiality: followers can trust and cede control
• Self-sacrifice: Shows shared fate
• Eloquence: noble words uplift and inspire