The Art of Asking Everything Sherry Turkle: Is Technology Killing Our Hearts?
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Apr 14, 2021 
In this engaging conversation, Sherry Turkle, MIT's Abby Rockefeller Mauzé Professor, dives into the complexities of human-technology interaction. She discusses her latest memoir, 'The Empathy Diaries,' unpacking family secrets and the struggles of being a woman in academia. Sherry reflects on the tension between intellect and emotion, the role of empathy in a digital age, and the importance of genuine connection in contrast to screen reliance. Her insights offer a thought-provoking look at how technology shapes our relationships and sense of self.
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Father's Deprivation Experiments Revealed
- Sherry Turkle recounts finding her biological father, Charles Zimmerman, who had performed psychological deprivation experiments on her as a baby.
- She discovered he was dissociated, obsessed with disproving Einstein, and the reunion allowed her to reconcile her mixed feelings about him and her mother’s decision to leave.
Mother Hid Cancer To Let Daughter Leave
- Sherry describes her mother hiding metastatic breast cancer for a decade to ensure Sherry could leave for Radcliffe and pursue her dream.
- The secret created a loneliess where family members were sad but couldn't be sad together, and Sherry later understood it as a protective choice.
Brilliance Launders Bad Behavior
- Turkle observes that brilliance can be used to excuse bad behavior, creating cultures that value ideas over people.
- She describes Marvin Minsky and colleagues where intellectual status launders mistreatment and discourages empathy at the table.
