Clearer Thinking with Spencer Greenberg Can we choose who we are? (with Gavin Leech)
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Aug 16, 2023 
Gavin Leech, cofounder of Arb Research and a PhD candidate in AI, dives into the fascinating nature of identity and personal transformation. He discusses whether we can truly choose who we are and shares insights on grit and growth mindsets in education. Leech highlights the replication crisis in psychology and critiques academic publishing processes for their flaws. The conversation also touches on the challenges of leveraging forecasting in policy-making, especially amid the rise of deepfakes and AI technologies, raising important ethical questions.
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Expanding Horizons
- We often benefit most from things outside our usual interests.
- This suggests exploring diverse activities for personal growth.
Personality Change
- Big Five personality traits exhibit stability in adulthood, often measured with correlations like 0.6-0.7.
- Despite this stability, significant change is possible through deliberate interventions.
Intervention Impact
- Personality stability studies rarely include individuals making dramatic life changes.
- These samples don't represent the potential for change through interventions.