Thinking Class #062 - Dr. Roy Baumeister - The Power Of Culture: How We Evolved To Live In The Tribe
Dr. Roy Baumeister is one of the world's most prolific and influential psychologists. He has published over 700 scientific works, including over 40 books. In 2013 he received the highest award given by the Association for Psychological Science, the William James Fellow Award in recognition of his lifetime achievements. As of 2023, Roy holds affiliations with Harvard University in the USA, Constructor University Bremen in Germany, Florida State University, also in the U. S., Better Up, Inc., U. S., and the University of Bamberg in Germany. His 2011 book, Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength with John Tierney, was a New York Times bestseller. He has appeared on television shows such as Dateline NBC and ABC's 2020, as well as on PBS, National Public Radio, and countless local news shows. His work has been covered or quoted in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, the LA Times, The Economist, Newsweek, Times, Psychology Today, Self, Men's Health, Businessweek and many other outlets.
In this episode, Roy and I think out loud about his book The Cultural Animal, why culture is a fundamental aspect of human existence, how it shapes individual identity, social structures, and helps our understanding of mortality, the role of language in culture, whether the cultural homogenization of the internet and the modern world is causing people to feel disoriented, why self esteem is driven by cultural belonging, how culture provides a defence against death, and the shifting role of religion in contemporary society. We also talk about the evolution of self control, how technology impacts behaviour, how the academy has overseen a lowering of standards in education, how cultural shifts affect self regulation and the implications for future generations, and how Roy's own beliefs have changed over time, particularly regarding feminism, his faith, and universities and much, much more.
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