[INTERVIEW] Are You More Honest with Google or Your Friends? With Seth Stephens-Davidowitz

The truth is we divulge more information to Google that we do to our friends, our family or even our doctors. Our social media persona can paint a very different picture to what we secretly search for on Google. So what do search trends in Google tell us about ourselves and our society? Does it matter that we are different on Google than in person?

Author of bestseller Everybody Lies (https://amzn.to/32ULlgD), Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, tells us how data can unlock the keys to happier relationships and even how to better parent our children.

Topics We Discuss with Seth:

(3:15) Welcome and speed round questions.

(12:53) Are people more honest with Google or with their friends? 

(16:01) The juxtaposition between our social media presence and our Google searches.

(21:03) Does everybody really lie? 

(26:06) Why people lie about sex.

(30:00) Why your children’s outcome is affected by your location. 

(36:37) Using more data and less intuition to make decisions. 

(44:28) The data to use and not to use for successful dating.

(47:57) What age do we get hooked on music?

(54:10) Do people lie about music?

Join us for our follow-on discussion in Episode 245 where Kurt and Tim have a Grooving Session on what they have talked about with Seth: the effect of context with honesty, tips for successful dating and the influences surrounding our children.

If you are a regular listener to Behavioral Grooves, please consider donating to our work through Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/behavioralgrooves). We also love reading your reviews on the podcast, which gives other listeners social proof that we’re worth listening to!

© 2021 Behavioral Grooves

Links

Behavioral Grooves new website: www.behavioralgrooves.com 

Seth Stephens-Davidowitz: http://sethsd.com/ 

Seth Stephens-Davidowitz: “Everybody Lies: Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Can Tell Us About Who We Really Are”: https://amzn.to/32ULlgD 

The Myth of the “Relationship Spark” with Logan Ury (featuring a guest appearance by Christina Gravert, PhD): https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/relationship-spark-logan-ury/ 

Dan Ariely, “Let Me Come Right Out and Say It: You Cheat”: https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/let-me-come-right-out-and-say-it-you-cheat/ 

Bernie Madoff: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Madoff

Shankar Vedantam, “Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain”: https://amzn.to/2PUkzlv 

Raj Chetty: http://www.rajchetty.com/ 

Dan Levitin, “This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession”: https://amzn.to/3C45iSh 

Episode 171: Self Control, Belonging, and Why Your Most Dedicated Employees Are the Ones To Watch Out For with Roy Baumeister https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/self-control-belonging-and-why-your-most-dedicated-employees-are-the-ones-to-watch-out-for-with-roy-baumeister/

Episode 220: How Do You Become Influential? Jon Levy Reveals His Surprising Secrets:  https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/how-to-be-influential-jon-levy/

Moneyball movie: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moneyball_(film) 

Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, “The Songs That Bind”: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/10/opinion/sunday/favorite-songs.html 

Episode 219: Why Music Makes You Feel Better with Pablo Ripollés and Ernest Mas Herrero: https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/why-music-makes-you-feel-better/

Elizabeth Ki, Behavioral Scientist at Spotify: http://elizabethdkim.com/ 

Episode 218: Share, Like, Comment: Sandra Matz PhD Exposes The Truth Behind your Digital Footprint: https://behavioralgrooves.com/episode/your-digital-footprint/

Musical Links

Leonard Cohen “Famous Blue Raincoat”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohk3DP5fMCg 

Leonard Cohen “Alexandra Leaving”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELGaHaZzwjU

Leonard Cohen “Suzanne”:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svitEEpI07E

Bruce Springsteen “Dancing in the Dark”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=129kuDCQtHs 

Bob Dylan “Too Late”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUT7N8RYgSI 

Paul Simon “Late in The Evening”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_K5qIA1IVIA 

Crosby, Stills and Nash “Just a Song Before I Go”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UoneXjfBC0 

Dave Matthews Band “Funny The Way it Is”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNiS9T-I2Eg&pp=sAQA 

Katy Perry “Smile”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZA5heWazIQ 

Duran Duran “Invisible”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMCd5zrsFpE 

Justin Bieber “Intentions”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AyMjyHu1bA 

The Beatles “Come Together”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45cYwDMibGo