Michele Gelfand's "Rulemakers, Rule Breakers" explores the concept of tight and loose cultures, examining how societies vary in their adherence to social norms. The book delves into the evolutionary origins of these cultural differences, linking them to factors like environmental threats and historical experiences. Gelfand uses diverse research methods, from surveys to computational models, to analyze the impact of tight and loose cultures on various aspects of life, from individual behavior to national policies. The book challenges readers to reconsider their own cultural biases and appreciate the strengths and weaknesses of different cultural approaches. Ultimately, it promotes a more nuanced understanding of cultural diversity and its implications for global cooperation and conflict resolution.
Michele Gelfand (Professor of Organizational Behavior at the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Professor of Psychology by Courtesy at Stanford University) joins host Ron Steslow to discuss culture, social norms, and her book Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: How Tight and Loose Cultures Wire Our World
(01:46) Why she decided to study culture
(04:34) What are tight and loose cultures
(06:12) Why tight and loose cultures evolve
(10:38) The tradeoffs between tight and loose and how different cultures responded to the Covid pandemic
(16:19) Tightness-looseness and willingness to change
(19:57) Red and Blue vs Tight and Loose
(30:36) Tightening around core values, even in loose cultures
(34:56) Real and manufactured threats
(44:15) How we we can put this framework into action
You should read Rule Makers, Rule Breakers: https://amzn.to/3Qy8DQc
Follow Michele and Ron on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MicheleJGelfand
https://twitter.com/RonSteslow
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Politicology 