Understanding the Mysteries of Human Behavior

By: Mark Leary, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Mark Leary

Every day of your life is spent surrounded by mysteries that involve what appear to be rather ordinary human behaviors. What makes you happy? Where did your personality come from? Why do you have trouble controlling certain behaviors? Why do you behave differently as an adult than you did as an adolescent?

Since the start of recorded history, and probably even before, people have been interested in answering questions about why we behave the way we do. And many fields - including philosophy, psychology, and even theology - are focused on finding explanations. But it's only in recent decades that researchers can finally approach, understand, and solve the mysteries of emotion, thought, and behavior - solutions that help each of us to better know ourselves and the people around us. The result is not only a more solid understanding of what it means to be human, but a stronger foundation from which to live more effectively with others and to grasp their intricate behaviors and quirks.

Now you can gain those benefits through a series of 24 intriguing lectures from an award-winning teacher. Professor Leary takes you on a fascinating journey into the complex heart of who you are, using the latest theories, case studies, experiments, and stories to cast light on a wide variety of human behaviors, both ordinary and puzzling.

Throughout these lectures, you'll learn about the various interacting forces that influence your behavior. These include your genetic blueprint, your personal experiences, your upbringing, and the people and social groups that surround you.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2012 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2012 The Great Courses

An easy-to-digest synthesis of up-to-date research

What did you love best about Understanding the Mysteries of Human Behavior?

The most valuable elements are the frequent references to modern research and studies whose conclusions often times contradict our deepest intuitions. Disabusing ourselves of these misleading intuitions helps us to more clearly see the reality of what it's like to be us. This lecture series points out human tendencies that even the most introspective may miss. The mind is a machine, and knowing better how that machine operates is something everyone can benefit from.

What about Professor Mark Leary’s performance did you like?

Well-timed pauses, emphasis, pace, and cadence.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No, it was just interesting and contained useful information.

Any additional comments?

This being an audio product, I feel it must be said that the professor's inconsistent lisp can be distracting. For instance, it's not uncommon for the following sentence to be spoken like so: "One perthon who experiences stress may react differently than another person exthperiencing the same sthtress." Some S's trip the professor up, others don't. I would have preferred a consistent lisp to an inconsistent one, due to how it pulled my attention away from the interesting things he was saying. Also, schadenfreude is pronounced "shod-en-froy-duh," not "shod-en-froid." For most, this would be nit-picking, but others may find themselves being distracted more by such things. Regardless, this is a worthwhile listen, which is why I gave it 5-stars overall.

Interesting explanations to various behaviors

The speaker is professional and pleasant to hear. I heard the lectures in x1.15 speed.

The content is interesting: He covers often unclear elements such as falling in love and road rage in a scientific manner, based on well planned studies. You do not need or should trust 100% of the explanations, but you can definitely get interesting explanations to many aspects in human behavior.

Highly recommended, even just for fun reading.

Human Behavior - excellent!

A very informative lecture covering a wide variety of the humans spectrum of behavior.

I often wonder what may happen as we enter the realm of neuroscience and uncover the map of the mind. These topics that were discussed related to behavior may evolve due to our level of understanding as quantum theory applies.

Superb

Both professional and material were excellent. Well done. Loved him on the finding mastery podcast too :)

so enlightening

very interesting. each section is well though out, and reasearched. I would totally recommend it.