Hello and welcome to the Psychology Podcast.

In this episode I talk to renowned developmental psychologist Paul Bloom.

Bloom is the author of a bunch of books, but his most recent one is called The Sweet Spot,

the Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning.

Paul and I go way back to my grad school days at Yale when he was one of my mentors.

We always have a great chat and this one is no different.

In this episode we cover a lot of territory.

We discuss the value of suffering and pursuit of meaning and make the distinction between

unforeseen tragedy and chosen suffering.

Paul elaborates on BDSM in a horror as examples of benign masochism, activities that people

find comfort and enjoyment in despite the experience of pain.

We also touch on the topics of meditation, Buddhism, attachment, parenting, empathy and

rational compassion.

This is a very juicy episode and I hope you enjoy it just as much as I did.

So without further ado, I bring you Paul Bloom.

Dr. Bloom is so great to chat with you today on the Psychology Podcast.

It's nice to see you again Scott.

Thanks for having me on.

Thank you.

I was coming up with The Sweet Spot by Memory.

That is the title of the book, right?

That is exactly the title of the book, The Sweet Spot.

...