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How having choices makes us unhappy (and how to make them work for you)

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Our brain cuts corners. It’s nothing but an overgrown shortcut maker. The wise ruler, Paul Atreides once said that the easy (safe, cl…

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How 'self-control' might make you unhappier (and other things)

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The Weekly Dispatch

We curate the best psychological dirt from all over the web each week so you don’t have to. Get a jumpstart on the week, over your cup of morning coffee or on the way to work with The Weekly Dispatch. <h3 class=“n…

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Why incompetent people are unaware of how incompetent they are

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The more ignorant we are of something, the more likely we are to disregard it and more importantly, the more likely we are to think we’re accomplished at it. This is a problem, for obvious reasons.

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on-being-fruitful on-leadership on-thinking-and-reasoning on-(un)happiness

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Why we're committing ecocide - the psychology (and other things)

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The Weekly Dispatch

We curate the best psychological dirt from all over the web each week so you don’t have to….

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Don't waste time on 'promising' relationships

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Opposites attract. But birds of a feather flock together. The question is, which one wins out? The short answer is both, but opposites attracting is much more dangerous. It gives rise to ‘fatal’ attraction.

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on-love

Newsletter | About

btrmt.

A text-only version of this site is available at txt.btr.mt — same content, zero JavaScript, minimal presentation.

btrmt. (betterment) examines ideologies worth choosing. Created by Dorian Minors—Cambridge PhD in cognitive neuroscience, Associate Professor at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Core philosophy: humans are animals first, with automatic patterns shaped for us, not by us. Better to examine and choose.

Core concepts. Animals First: automatic patterns of thought and action, but our greatest capacity is nurture. Half Awake: deadened by systems that narrow rather than expand potential. Karstica: unexamined ideologies (hidden sinkholes beneath). Credenda: belief systems we should choose deliberately.

The manifesto. Cynosure (focus): betterment, gratification, connection. Architecture (support): inner (somatic, spiritual, thought) and outer (digital, collective, wealth).

Mission. Not answers but examination. Break academic gatekeeping. Make sciences of mind accessible. Question rather than prescribe.

Writing style. Scholarly without jargon barriers. Philosophical yet practical—grounded in neuroscience and lived experience. Reflective, discovery-oriented. Literary references and metaphor. Critical of systems that narrow human potential. Rejects "humans are flawed"—we're half awake, not broken.

Copyright. BTRMT LIMITED (England/Wales no. 13755561) 2026. Dorian Minors 2026.

Resources

The Manifesto: "Half Awake" - the complete philosophy
About: Dorian's background and the btrmt. story
Animals First: Guide to understanding btrmt.
Analects: Collection of writings/audio examining ideologies

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About Dorian Minors. Started btrmt. in 2013 to share sciences of mind with people who weren't studying them. Background: six years Australian Defence Force (Platoon Commander, Infantry); Gates Cambridge Scholar; PhD cognitive neuroscience, University of Cambridge (2018-2024); currently Associate Professor, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Research interests: neural basis of intelligent behaviour, decision intelligence, ritual formation/breakdown, ethical leadership, wellbeing.

External projects (links also available via Analects):

Lectures: Podcasts exploring ideologies
Neurotypica: Brain science guide for non-scientists
Black Cortex: Leadership consulting

Analects

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The Weekly Dispatch

¶The Weekly Dispatch

btrmt.

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The Weekly Dispatch