TALK
Seeking Wisdom in an uncertain and polarized world

Abstract:

In a time of disagreements about values, politics, and cultural practices, psychological scientists have turned to possible antidotes to societal acrimony – the concept of wisdom. Interest in wisdom has come from diverse research areas, including leadership and organizational behavior, personality science, positive psychology, judgment/decision-making, education, culture, and intergroup and interpersonal relationships. I will critically examine the diverse approaches to defining and measuring wisdom and describe what many scientists studying wisdom see as common across a myriad of definitions: epistemic humility, consideration of multiple perspectives and ways a situation may unfold, observer viewpoint on a situation, and willingness to be open-minded to different perspectives. After establishing common ground across definitions and reviewing the validity of different measurement approaches, I will highlight research that explores the role of macro- and micro-level factors – from economic security to interdependence in social coordination – for these features of wisdom, along with initial steps to develop evidence-based interventions. Furthermore, I will review empirical evidence concerning benefits and drawbacks of these characteristics for personal decision-making, interpersonal relationships, scientific enterprise, and society writ large.

Responsável do evento –  Prof. Doutor Leonel Garcia-Marques.