Tali Sharot | Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There | Talks at Google

Tali Sharot, a cognitive neuroscience professor and author, is introduced as the speaker for the Talks at Google event. She discusses her book 'Look Again,' which explores how habituation affects our perception and behavior. Sharot highlights the brain's tendency to adapt to constant stimuli, leading to a diminished response over time, and how this can impact our daily lives and happiness.

Sharot uses the example of a vacation to illustrate habituation, where the initial excitement fades as the experience becomes routine. She explains that people are happiest around 43 hours into their vacation, and the joy derived from 'firsts' decreases with repetition. The concept of habituation is further discussed through examples like smelling perfume and the brain's neural response to constant stimuli.

Habituation is presented as a double-edged sword. On one hand, it drives progress and prevents us from becoming stuck in our current state, which is vital for motivation and survival. On the other hand, it leads to desensitization, causing us to lose appreciation for good things and to overlook negative aspects that could be changed. The challenge of regaining sensitivity to both the positive and negative in life is introduced.

An experiment is discussed where people who listened to a song with breaks reported more enjoyment and were willing to pay more for a concert. This suggests that breaking up pleasurable experiences can increase overall pleasure by preventing habituation. The idea of taking breaks during enjoyable activities to enhance pleasure is explored.

The importance of variety in life is emphasized as a means to counteract habituation. People who experience a diverse range of environments and interactions tend to have a more psychologically rich and meaningful life. The concept of learning and progress is introduced as a way to achieve pleasure and satisfaction that does not fade with time.

Studies show that emotional habituation can lead to dishonesty and risk escalation. People become desensitized to their own negative behaviors, such as lying, which can increase over time. The amygdala's response to emotional arousal decreases with repeated dishonest acts, normalizing the behavior. The talk also touches on how habituation to fear can lead to increased risk-taking.

To counteract habituation, particularly to negative stimuli, strategies such as changing environments and rules are discussed. Examples include Sweden's change in driving direction and the rotation of cigarette warning labels. These changes disrupt habituation, prompting increased caution and awareness.

The talk concludes with the idea that while awareness of habituation does not eliminate it, it can lead to actions that enhance well-being and promote positive change. Sharot uses the Thatcher illusion as an analogy to demonstrate that understanding the brain's tricks can inform our actions without necessarily removing the illusion.

The Q&A session covers various topics related to habituation, including its impact on aging, the difference between self-initiated and externally triggered changes, and the balance between habituation and dishabituation in productivity. The discussion also touches on how to reset habituation levels for good habits and the challenges of maintaining sensitivity to negative events in society.

The final part of the discussion considers habituation in young children, suggesting that due to the novelty of their experiences, habituation may be less common. Advice is given on teaching children to recognize and respond to habituation, with an emphasis on allowing them to experience the natural consequences of their actions to interrupt habituation processes.