Ep63. Part 1: Does our biology facilitate our Global Disorder?
Aug 27, 2024
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Harvey Whitehouse, Director of the Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion at Oxford, dives into the complexities of human behavior. He discusses how globalization and technology have paradoxically fueled tribalism and in-group hatred. Whitehouse explains the significance of understanding evolutionary biology in deciphering the allure of strong leaders like Trump and Putin. The conversation also touches on identity fusion, the decline in global religiosity, and its effects on governance and social cohesion, highlighting the interconnectedness of our evolutionary past with modern societal issues.
Human beings possess an innate potential for collaboration, influenced by evolutionary patterns that can be harnessed to counter societal discord.
Effective leadership requires understanding shared experiences across opposing groups, fostering unity through collective goals and narratives that bridge divides.
Deep dives
The Nature of Human Collaboration
Human beings and governments possess an innate potential for collaboration, despite a tendency toward division influenced by evolutionary patterns such as tribalism and conformism. Research over the past two decades suggests that these ingrained behaviors can be harnessed for solidarity, portraying collaboration as a tool to counteract societal discord. The principles of cooperation rooted in human nature can lead to positive social interactions, as evidenced by various studies. An understanding of these principles promotes an appreciation for the evolutionary benefits of collaboration, suggesting that shared biological and cultural traits may enhance collective problem-solving.
Universal Principles of Morality
Oliver Scott Curry's research identifies seven universal principles of cooperation that are widely recognized as morally good across diverse cultures. These principles include helping one's kin, reciprocal favors, courage, loyalty, fair sharing, respect for property, and deference to authority. Studies conducted across 60 different cultures have highlighted that these moral frameworks are not mere societal constructs but are intrinsic to human nature. While cultural interpretations may vary, the fundamental predispositions towards these moral principles affirm the shared moral compass of humanity.
The Challenge of Large-Scale Cooperation
Evolved human psychology originally supported cooperation in small groups, but modern complexities require scaling these principles to larger societies. The podcast discusses how loyalty, which thrives in small communities, becomes challenging to apply in extensive populations where individuals lack personal connections. Historical examples illustrate how societies have effectively harnessed innate biases to facilitate larger-scale cooperation, with the ongoing struggle to adapt such mechanisms to rapidly changing technologies. As today's technological advancements advance quicker than our cultural adaptations, some traditional forms of interaction may impede cohesive cooperation.
Empathy as a Tool for Political Leadership
Effective leadership emerges from understanding and empathizing with shared experiences across opposing groups, a principle referred to as 'barrier crossing.' Leaders who can acknowledge common struggles not only between rival groups but also across broader societal divides foster collaboration and unity. This approach counters divisive rhetoric and focuses on collective experiences and goals to bridge gaps and promote cooperation. Case studies, such as speeches highlighting shared suffering, demonstrate that even minor shared narratives can significantly alter group dynamics and create pathways toward peaceful resolutions.
Over the last two decades the seemingly ‘connecting’ phenomena of globalization and the internet have not made human communities more united. Seemingly paradoxically, aided by new technologies and interconnections, new forms of tribalism, superstition, in-group conformism, and out-group hatred have spread. Are these patterns of in-group solidarity and out-group distrust just the way humans are biologically wired to think?
In today’s episode, Jason Pack is joined by Harvey Whitehouse, Director of the Centre for the Study of Social Cohesion at Oxford University and author of Inheritance: The Evolutionary Origins of the Modern World. Jason and Harvey explore: why cultivating a deeper understanding of evolutionary biology helps us explain the exact sociological appeal of strongmen like Putin and Trump; whether the decline in global religiosity has made societies less governable; and why the concept of identity fusion can shed light on how humans see their very essence of their being as part of a group and are willing to act collectively and selflessly to achieve what are perceived as shared interests.