196. What’s Wrong With Being a Little Neurotic?
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Is there any upside to negative emotions? What can comedians teach us about dealing with pain? And why did Angela eat off of a stranger’s plate at a sushi bar? 

• SOURCES:

• Ludwig van Beethoven), 18th-19th century composer and pianist.

• Jen Christensen), reporter and producer at CNN.

• Lauren Eskreis-Winkler), professor of management & organizations at Northwestern University.

• Sigmund Freud), neurologist and founder of psychoanalysis.

• Shirley MacLaine), actor.

• George Vaillant), professor of psychiatry at Massachusetts General Hospital.

• Ali Wong), comedian.

• RESOURCES:

• "The Sad Clown: The Deep Emotions Behind Stand-Up Comedy)," by Jen Christensen (*CNN, *2018).

• "Neuroticism)," by Jennifer L. Tackett and Benjamin B. Lahey (*The Oxford handbook of the Five Factor Model, *2017).

• "Thinking Too Much: Self-Generated Thought as the Engine of Neuroticism)," by Adam M. Perkins, Danilo Arnone, Jonathan Smallwood, and Dean Mobbs (*Trends in Cognitive Sciences, *2015).

• "Survivor Mission: Do Those Who Survive Have a Drive to Thrive at Work?)" by Lauren Eskreis-Winkler, Elizabeth Shulman, and Angela Duckworth (*The Journal of Positive Psychology, *2014).

• "Age Differences in Personality Traits From 10 to 65: Big Five Domains and Facets in a Large Cross-Sectional Sample)," by Christopher J. Soto, Oliver P. John, Samuel D. Gosling, and Jeff Potter (*Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, *2011).

• "Adaptive Mental Mechanisms: Their Role in a Positive Psychology)," by George Vaillant (*American Psychologist, *2000).

• The Harvard Study of Adult Development).

• EXTRAS:

• Big Five Personality Inventory), by *No Stupid Questions *(2024).

• “Personality: The Big Five),” series by *No Stupid Questions *(2024).

• Terms of Endearment)*, *film by James L. Brooks (1983).

• "Invictus)," poem by William Ernest Henley (1888).