30. Why Do We Seek Comfort in the Familiar?

In this episode of "No Stupid Questions," Angela Duckworth and Stephen Dubner explore the human tendency to seek comfort in familiar things, especially during times of stress, discussing the mere-exposure effect and broaden-and-build theory. They consider whether the desire to try new things requires a positive outlook and physical energy, and how to encourage novelty-seeking behavior. They also delve into the concept of "ultra crepedarianism" and the Dunning-Kruger effect, questioning whether a little knowledge is worse than complete ignorance, and how overconfidence can lead to errors, even among the well-informed.