Modern Wisdom #422 - Dr Joe Henrich - Evolution, Psychology, Monogamy & Culture
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Jan 15, 2022 
Joe Henrich, a Harvard Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology, dives deep into how culture shapes our behaviors and preferences. He discusses the intriguing idea that much of what we believe to be 'human nature' may actually be cultural conditioning. Explore how agricultural choices influence family dynamics, and the implications of a future with sexless men. The conversation touches on the interplay between language, social structure, and psychological traits, all while highlighting the moral dilemmas we face in a culturally diverse world.
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Cultural Conditioning vs. Human Nature
- Human behavior traits are often culturally conditioned, not inherent human nature.
- Psychological experiments mostly use WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, Democratic) subjects, misrepresenting humanity.
Ecology's Impact on Psychology
- Human psychology adapts to local ecology through institutions, like family structures.
- Rice-growing regions favor large, cooperative clans, leading to different mindsets than wheat-growing areas.
Instincts and Institutions
- Fundamental human instincts, like kinship and pair bonding, form the base of institutions.
- Cultures shape these instincts; pair bonding can manifest as monogamy, polygyny, or polyandry.
