Dr. Michael Platt is the James S. Riepe University Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, with joint appointments in Neuroscience, Psychology, and Marketing. He serves as Director of the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative and is a leading voice in the emerging field of neuroeconomics. His research explores the neural basis of decision-making and social behavior, integrating insights from anthropology, evolution, and economics. Dr. Platt earned his BA from Yale, PhD from Penn, and completed postdoctoral training at NYU.
In our conversation we discuss:
(00:00) – Definition of gut instinct from a neuroscience lens
(01:34) – Instinct shaped by personal and ancestral experience
(03:16) – Evolutionary vs. economic rationality
(06:25) – Efficient coding: brain shortcuts and loss aversion
(08:01) – Slower decisions = better outcomes (when time allows)
(10:17) – Social wiring drives trust and also herd behavior
(12:41) – Monkeys predict elections: facial cues and bias
(17:56) – Eye contact builds trust and synchronizes brain activity
(22:27) – Brain synchrony improves collaboration and empathy
(30:15) – Deep conversation prompts foster connection
(39:03) – Storytelling increases audience alignment and persuasion
(43:51) – Simplicity boosts message clarity and engagement
(50:02) – Faking social behaviors erodes trust
(01:05:16) – Decision-making tips: slow down, simplify choices
(01:20:21) – Overreliance on AI may weaken critical thinking
Learn more about Dr. Platt:Website: https://www.drmichaelplatt.com/
Watch full episodes on: https://www.youtube.com/@seankim
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