Anthropologist Tom Pearson was devastated after his daughter Michaela was diagnosed with Down syndrome. When he began to examine that emotional response, he found himself wrestling with questions that have roiled his field for decades. Early anthropologists would often compare people of different backgrounds and abilities, asking questions like: How is one group different from another? Which one is stronger or smarter? And how do we understand people who don’t fit our expectations? This week, we talk with Pearson about his family’s story, and the evolution of our thinking on disability and difference.
If you liked today's show, be sure to check out these classic Hidden Brain episodes:
"Emma, Carrie, Vivian"
"Why You're Smarter than You Think"
The Benefits of Mixed Emotions
Putting Our Assumptions to the Test
Mind Reading 2.0: Why Conversations Go Wrong
Mind Reading 2.0: Our Better Angels
Mind Reading 2.0: The Double Standard
Mind Reading 2.0: How others see you
Mind Reading 2.0: Why did you do that?
My Unsung Hero: Sanaa Kerroumi's Story
Minimizing Pain, Maximizing Joy
What Makes Relationships Thrive
My Unsung Hero: Wendy McDowell's Story
Changing Behavior, Not Beliefs
Choose Carefully
Creatures of Habit
My Unsung Hero: Justin Horner's Story
Bringing Up Baby
The Psychology of Self-Doubt
My Unsung Hero: Leah Bartell's Story
Both Things Can Be True
Work 2.0: The One-Room Commute
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