Luxury beliefs confer status on the upper class and harm the lower classes, leading to social and economic inequality.
Dating apps like Tinder have transformed monogamy into polygamy, fostering instant gratification and potentially psychopathic tendencies.
Elites promote racial divisions to maintain social status, contradicting the concept of colorblindness and perpetuating socioeconomic disparities.
The disdain and contempt felt by the elite towards the working class exacerbate societal divisions and harm individuals.
Deep dives
The concept of luxury beliefs
Luxury beliefs are ideas and opinions that confer status on the upper class while often inflicting costs on the lower social classes. This idea originated from the observations of the speaker during their time as an undergraduate student at Yale. They noticed that many affluent peers held beliefs and opinions that were not supported by their own background or plans for the future. This led to the exploration of sociological and psychological research to understand the motivations behind such beliefs. The luxury beliefs concept suggests that the affluent have detached status from material goods and reattached it to beliefs.
Luxury beliefs and social class
The adoption of luxury beliefs is primarily observed among highly educated and affluent individuals. These beliefs often lead to social consequences and impact lower-class individuals more significantly. For example, the promotion of ideas like abolishing the police or open borders by the affluent can be harmful to the poor who would bear the costs of such policies. Luxury beliefs are also reflected in behavior, such as affluent individuals using addictive technology while restricting their own and their children's exposure to it. The disparity in the effects of luxury beliefs on different social classes raises concerns about social and economic inequality.
The erosion of norms and dating apps
The podcast discusses the impact of dating apps, specifically Tinder, on dating norms and behaviors. The speaker highlights how Tinder has transformed monogamy into polygamy, with hyper-successful individuals gaining a disproportionate amount of sexual opportunities. This leads to a destructive pattern where a small minority of men accumulate partners while the majority have limited access. The ease of using dating apps has also led to phenomena like ghosting, in which individuals abruptly and unceremoniously end communication after intimate encounters. These apps have created a culture of instant gratification and short-term conquests, potentially fostering psychopathic tendencies in users.
The influence of elites on society
The podcast explores the influence of elites, who often champion ideas and beliefs that trickle down to the broader society. While elites initially advocated for colorblindness and equality, the speaker suggests that they now use race as a distinguishing factor to set themselves apart from the middle and working classes. This shift in attitude seeks to maintain social status by promoting racial divisions, contrary to the colorblindness concept that was once championed. The influence of the elites on social values and beliefs highlights the potential for societal stratification and the perpetuation of socioeconomic disparities.
The Significance of Moral Superiority
The podcast episode explores the concept of moral superiority and how it is often associated with economic wealth. The speaker discusses how moral superiority is valued and how it is tied to feelings of superiority and disgust towards certain groups, such as the working class. The episode also delves into the idea that luxury beliefs, which allow individuals to distinguish themselves from the lower classes, can be a way of signaling moral superiority.
The Importance of Race and Ethnicity
The podcast episode touches on the idea that in elite circles, promoting the importance of race and ethnicity can be seen as a luxury belief. It is suggested that highly educated and affluent individuals may feel little negative consequences from promoting racial divisions, as it helps them distinguish themselves from others and maintain a sense of superiority. However, the episode also warns about the potential harmful consequences for ordinary people if these beliefs are reintroduced into society.
The Perception of Working Class by the Elite
The podcast episode discusses the perception of the working class by the elite, particularly focusing on the visceral disgust felt by some individuals from higher social classes towards the working class. This disgust is seen as the opposite of moral purity, which is associated with moral superiority. The speaker recounts personal experiences where revealing his elite background caused tension and judgment from individuals in his hometown, highlighting the disdain and division between social classes.
The Role of Fear, Disdain, and Contempt in Belief Systems
The podcast episode highlights the role of fear, disdain, and contempt as motivators for belief systems. It emphasizes that while fear can evoke respect and caution, it is disdain and contempt that truly have a deep and negative impact on individuals. The episode suggests that the disdain felt by the elite towards the working class contributes to class divisions and further amplifies societal divisions. It also examines the influence of disdain and contempt in shaping beliefs and underscores the need for caution in broadcasting beliefs that can harm others.
Rob Henderson is a US Air Force veteran, Ph.D. student in evolutionary and social psychology, and prolific writer.
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Dr. Jordan Peterson and Rob Henderson exchange ideas about the impact of luxury beliefs on the different socioeconomic classes, polyamory, and the idea of the patriarchal institution. Dr. Jordan shares his experience with Henderson as they discuss psychopathy and its relationship with dating apps. Check out this episode to listen to what they have to say about pornography, defunding the police, the role of sex, the consequences of reproductive technology, and much more.
Rob Henderson, a veteran of the US Air Force, is a Ph.D. student in evolutionary and social psychology at the University of Cambridge. He also got his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Yale. His writing appeared in worldwide newspapers like the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Quillette. Currently, he is writing a memoir to be published in late 2022.
