Does Human Agency Drive Progress? | Martin Seligman

*Could a psychological belief help explain why entire civilizations flourish or stagnate?* Martin Seligman extends his research on helplessness, optimism, and agency into history, examining whether changes in people's sense of control are associated with changes in human progress. 0:00 The Psychology of Human Agency 3:08 Agency and the Meaning of Progress 5:56 Reading the Minds of the Dead 15:26 Individual and Collective Agency in China 21:07 The Psychological Cost of Individual Agency 25:47 Agency and Modern Human Progress 29:41 AI, Deskilling, and Human Agency *Martin E.P. Seligman* is the Zellerbach Family Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania and Director of the Penn Positive Psychology Center. A leading figure in positive psychology, his research focuses on well-being, resilience, learned helplessness, optimism, and depression. *More from Martin Seligman on Closer To Truth:* * Closer To Truth: The Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJr3pJl27pLLkP0kHQKL9nZh35UkgkR_ * Understanding Consciousness - Closer To Truth - Core Topic: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFJr3pJl27pJKWEUWv9X56y_ut3xwFDv1 * Closer To Truth contributors: https://closertotruth.com/contributor/martin-seligman/ *Subscribe to Closer To Truth:* https://www.youtube.com/@CloserToTruthTV *Join the Community:* * Membership (5,000+ videos): https://closertotruth.com/register/ * Audio Podcast: https://closertotruth.podbean.com * Support the Show: https://closertotruth.com/donate/ * Official Merchandise: https://www.bonfire.com/store/closertotruth/ *Follow Us:* * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CloserToTruthTV/ * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/closertotruth/ * X: https://twitter.com/CloserToTruth * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@closertotruthtv Closer To Truth, created and hosted by Robert Lawrence Kuhn, presents the world's greatest thinkers exploring humanity's deepest questions. Discover fundamental issues of existence and sentience. Engage new