Is Toxic Positivity a Thing?
Freakonomics Radio, Stephen Dubner, Angela Duckworth
5 mins
3 key insights
Visual, audio & text
This January 2022 episode of Freakonomics Radio explores whether extreme positivity can ever be toxic, discussing optimism and how to change your mindset to be less pessimistic.
Is Toxic Positivity a Thing?
Is Toxic Positivity a Thing?
by Freakonomics Radio
Overview
Do you see the glass as half-full or half-empty? Everyone has their own answer, but some believe that having anything in their glass is a reason to celebrate. They wake up every morning happy and excited, regardless of the tragedies people face. Some might identify with this feeling, while others may find this level of positivity irritating, or even worse, toxic. Do some people have a naturally high level of positivity, and can this ever be toxic?
This episode of Freakonomics Radio, hosted by Stephen Dubner, co-author of the Freakonomics books, and Angela Duckworth, research psychologist and author of Grit, aims to answer the toxic positivity question. The Freakonomics Radio Network aims to discuss all sorts of topics, from happiness to cognition to all the strange and interesting ways human beings behave.
Favorite quote
The reason why we want happiness for our children and ourselves is that it is the end in itself. Many philosophers have said that the pursuit of human action is happiness.
- Angela Duckworth
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