The Gist Outrage: Professor Kurt Gray Plus a Visit From The Proud Boys
9 snips
Feb 24, 2025 Psychology professor Kurt Gray, a leading expert from the University of North Carolina and author of "Outraged," delves into how our evolutionary history as prey has influenced today's moral and political debates. He discusses the dynamics of victimhood, especially how groups perceive threats and the narratives shaped by media. The conversation also touches on the complex interplay of oppressor and oppressed identities, emphasizing empathy in understanding societal conflicts, including contentious situations like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Humans as Prey
- Humans were historically prey, not predators, evidenced by injuries on ancient skulls.
- This prey mentality shapes our perception of threats and influences modern political conflicts.
Overestimating Threats
- Humans overestimate threats due to their prey ancestry and modern safety.
- This leads to outrage over relatively minor issues, like children walking home alone.
Assumptions of Vulnerability
- Liberals view vulnerability as group-based, while conservatives view it individually.
- This difference in Assumptions of Vulnerability (AOVs) fuels political disagreements on issues like affirmative action.
