# Key Points The psychology podcast "So bin ich eben" with Stefanie Stahl and Lukas Klaschinski dedicates this episode to the psychological immune system and mental resilience. As a guest, neuroscientist Prof. Dr. Maren Urner is invited, who in her book "Radikal emotional" analyzes the handling of emotions and presents strategies for more resilience. ### 1. The psychological immune system serves primarily for self-protection The psychological immune system protects our identity and mental integrity. According to Urner, it pursues a similar purpose to the physical immune system: "Both want to keep us alive." It wards off information that could endanger our own worldview: "If I were to tell you now what you've believed for 20 years is wrong, you'd say, Maren, I think you're stupid. [...] Because that directly attacks my identity." ### 2. Cognitive biases are part of our psychological immune system Urner emphasizes that these biases are not mistakes, but evolutionarily sensible mechanisms: "Our brain doesn't have any bad intentions, but wants to keep us alive." She suggests speaking of "cognitive quick shots" instead of "cognitive biases". An example is the "negativity bias": "Our brain processes negative things faster, better, and more intensely [...] because any negative information can potentially mean danger." ### 3. Media consumption significantly influences our mental well-being On the topic of digital media and their impact on our psyche, Urner explains: "The more information, in this case news, I consume, the worse it can be processed, because our brain simply needs more time." The excess of negative news can affect mental health: "We now have quasi-new clinical pictures, so social media addiction is not yet diagnosable, but is being discussed." ### 4. Emotional maturity is the foundation for social progress As a solution, Urner advocates for an "emotional maturity test" especially for politicians: "No one should come into a political office [...] if they haven't taken an emotional maturity test." She argues: "If every person in the world were really well-reflected, we wouldn't have this whole mess now." ## Breakdown The podcast offers a clear insight into neuroscientific findings on psychological mechanisms and connects them with practical everyday references. The conversation partners manage to explain complex neuroscientific concepts such as cognitive biases in an understandable way and make their relevance for individual resilience comprehensible. Particularly valuable is the critical perspective on current media consumption and its psychological effects. Notable is the harmonious conversation dynamic without controversial positions. Alternative perspectives on the presented concepts or critical follow-up questions are largely lacking. The discussion sometimes takes on a deterministic tone when neuroscientific findings are used to explain human behavior. Problematic is the tendency to reduce complex social and political problems to individual behavior and psychological mechanisms. Especially the thesis that social ills can be cured through more self-reflection and emotional maturity neglects structural factors and systemic power relationships. The podcast is particularly suitable for listeners who are interested in the connection between neuroscientific findings and mental well-being and are looking for practical suggestions for a more conscious handling of media and information.