Could our expectations and connections be far important than we realise?

Our underlying beliefs profoundly influence the ways we interact with the world - yet we are often completely unaware of their power. At this event, science writer David Robson will share ground-breaking research on how our mindset shapes every aspect of our lives, revealing how your brain holds the keys to unlocking a better you.

For example, did you know that taking a placebo can improve your health, even when you know it's a placebo? Or that your attitude to ageing can influence how long you live?

David will also explain how our social connections are essential for our health and how our misguided intuitions can undermine our relationships. He'll share some psychological barriers that lead us to keep others at a distance and offer strategies to help you feel more connected to others.

We can’t just think ourselves happier. But we can reframe many different facets of our lives, and in so doing make real changes to our behaviour and interactions. These insights will help you take practical steps towards becoming the person you really want to be.

About the speaker

David Robson is an award-winning science writer specialising in the extremes of the human brain, body and behaviour. After graduating with a degree in mathematics from Cambridge University, he was features editor at New Scientist for five years, before moving to BBC Future, where he was a senior journalist. His writing has also appeared in the Guardian, the Atlantic, Aeon and Men’s Health.

David has received awards from the Association of British Science Writers and the UK Medical Journalists’ Association. He was also a finalist for the Best British Science Journalist of the Year Award in 2022.

David is author of The Expectation Effect: How Your Mindset Can Change Your World and The Laws of Connection: 13 Social Strategies That Will Transform Your Life.

To see the start time in your time zone, click here