Behavioral Grooves Podcast Why Do Culture Wars Happen? | Michael Morris
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Aug 18, 2025 
Michael Morris, a Columbia professor and expert in cultural psychology, dives into the primal instincts of human behavior. He discusses how our need for belonging (peer instinct), admiration (hero instinct), and historical connection (ancestor instinct) shape cultural dynamics. Insights from case studies at GM and Reddit illuminate the differences between top-down and grassroots cultural changes. Morris also reflects on the historical significance of Thanksgiving as a unifying force and emphasizes the importance of understanding our tribal nature for better leadership and collaboration.
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Three Deep Tribal Instincts
- Humans evolved three tribal instincts: peer, hero, and ancestor, each enabling different forms of cooperation.
- These instincts explain why we form groups, follow leaders, and defend traditions even when costly.
Peer Instinct Enables Large-Scale Coordination
- The peer instinct evolved to enable coordinated teamwork like persistence hunting and cultural copying.
- It makes humans exceptional imitators who internalize group norms to coordinate large-scale cooperation.
Hero Instinct Drives Prestigious Risks
- The hero instinct rewarded risky, prestige-building acts that benefited the group and increased status.
- This reputation mechanism expanded collective action by motivating people to take one-for-the-team risks.
