Wiser: The Scientific Roots of Wisdom, Compassion, and What Makes Us Good 9781683644644

Table of contents :
Title Page
Praise for Wiser
Copyright
Dedication
Introduction
Part I: What Is Wisdom?
Chapter 1: Defining Wisdom
The Emerging Science of Wisdom
From Schizophrenia to Wisdom
What Do Scientists Know about Wisdom?
Chapter 2: The Neuroscience of Wisdom
This Is Your Brain on Paper
Mapping the Brain
Bumpy Skulls and What Lies Within
The Telling Tragedy of Phineas Gage
How Disease Reveals Wisdom by Its Absence
Whither Wisdom?
Chapter 3: Wisdom and Aging
Why Aging Is Good for Society
Grandparent Genes
Mind Over Diminishing Matter
Life Lessons at the End of Life
Disease, Dementia, Decline, Depression, and Death
Your Brain Is a Muscle—Use It
Workouts and Work-Arounds
Chapter 4: Measuring Wisdom
Counting What Counts
Are IQ Tests Really Intelligent?
How Do You Quantify Wisdom?
Changing the Paradigm
Wisdom in Three Dimensions
New SAWS
The San Diego Wisdom Scale (SD-WISE)
SD-WISE and Your Wisdom Index
Following Up
Part II: Components of Wisdom
Chapter 5: Cultivating Compassion
The Altruistic Brain
A Lack of Empathy
Why Care about Strangers?
The Importance of Self-Compassion
Gender and the Genetics of Compassion
Does Meditation Help?
Gratitude Writ Large
Use Your Words
Now, with Feelings
Chapter 6: Emotional Regulation with Happiness
Emotions, Feelings, and Moods
The Nature of Homeostasis
Does Happiness Change in Later Life?
Stress, Optimism, and Resilience
Who Doesn’t Like Marshmallows?
Measuring Emotions and Emotional Regulation
Happy Has a Home
Genetics of Emotions
Fitting Image
The Perils of Acting Rashly, Again and Again
Can There Be Too Much Emotional Self-Control?
Impulse Control and the Art of Boosting Emotional Regulation
Certainty in an Uncertain World
Chapter 7: Balancing Decisiveness with Acceptance of Uncertainty
A Day for Dilemmas
Working with What You’ve Got and Know
Decision-Making in the Brain
Bad Is Good Is Bad Is Good
The Inevitabilty of Unpredictability
Decisional Capacity
Critical Thinking
Acceptance of Diversity of Values
Decision-Making Techniques
Chapter 8: Self-Reflection, Curiosity, and Humor
Take a Look at Yourself
The Reflection Section
No Time to Think
The Benefits of Self-Affirmation
Not Thinking at All
Common Curiosity
The Curious Path
Laughed but Not Least
A Caveman Walks into a Cave . . .
The Joke’s in You
The Best Medicine
Higher Callings
Chapter 9: Spirituality
Religiosity “Versus” Spirituality
Measuring Religiosity and Spirituality
The Nature of Spirituality
Spirituality in Wisdom
The Body of Spirit: Health Outcomes
Possible Neurobiological Roots of Spirituality
Enhancing Spirituality
Part III: Enhancing Practical and Societal Wisdom
Chapter 10: Becoming Wiser Faster
Science Looks to Intervene
Practical Wisdom Means Wise Decision-Making in Daily Life
Self-Reflection
Empathy and Compassion
Mindfulness
Prosocial Activities
Emotional Regulation
Gratitude
Openness to New Experience
Alone Time
Spirituality
Other Psychological Interventions
Physical Activity Interventions
Chapter 11: Wisdom Boosters
Drugs: Smart and Wise?
Technology: Games and Gadgets
Artificial Wisdom?
Chapter 12: The Future of Wisdom
Taking Measure of Societal or National Status
Individual Versus Societal Wisdom
Is Societal Wisdom Increasing or Decreasing?
Wiser Faster: Individuals and Society
Practical Individual and Societal Wisdom During Crises
Acknowledgments
Notes
Index
About the Authors