Why Split-Second Thinking Fuels Violence | Jens Ludwig

We often frame violence in America as a battle between “good” and “bad” people, or as the sticking point in the never-ending political debate about guns. But what if evil people didn’t commit the majority of the acts of violence, but ordinary people caught in high-stress situations? We sit down with University of Chicago professor and Crime Lab director Jens Ludwig to challenge our most entrenched assumptions about crime and uncover what behavioral science reveals about the real causes of violence.

Drawing on decades of research, Jens explains how unforgiving environments have more to do with the likelihood of violence than “character” flaws. People pushed into high-pressure situations make catastrophic decisions in tiny windows of time because of system-1 thinking, tunnel vision, and the curse of knowledge, which can shape violent outcomes. Most notably, we learn how changing just 10 minutes of someone’s life can redirect not only the trajectory of individuals, but the security of entire neighborhoods.

In this episode, we share something rare in the gun debate with you: hope. Jens outlines for us evidence-based, politically neutral, and applicable solutions that cities can implement with minimal overhead. From pocket parks and eye-on-the-street to behavioral interventions, there are ways that we can drastically reduce violence without waiting for sweeping political reform. If you care about safer communities, more innovative policymaking, or just want to understand human behavior better, our conversation with Jens will forever reshape how you view violence.

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