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The Scientific Fundamentalist

A look at the hard truths about human nature.

Anger
Exotic culture that never was: Part II

Satoshi Kanazawa on May 22, 2008

The Gentle Tasaday:If the Yanomamö are “the fiercest people on earth,” does cultural determinism require that there necessarily be a “gentlest people on earth”?

The Gentle Tasaday:If the Yanomamö are “the fiercest people on earth,” does cultural determinism require that there necessarily be a “gentlest people on earth”?

Shyness
Exotic Culture that Never Was: Part I

Satoshi Kanazawa on May 15, 2008

Margaret Mead and the SamoaAt the most abstract level, all human cultures are the same and there is only one human culture. Nothing illustrates this point better than the recent (and somewhat shameful) history of the social sciences.

Margaret Mead and the SamoaAt the most abstract level, all human cultures are the same and there is only one human culture. Nothing illustrates this point better than the recent (and somewhat shameful) history of the social sciences.

Evolutionary Psychology
There is only one human culture

Satoshi Kanazawa on May 11, 2008

People often speak of culture in the plural (“cultures”) because they believe that there are many different cultures in the world. At one level, this is of course true.

People often speak of culture in the plural (“cultures”) because they believe that there are many different cultures in the world. At one level, this is of course true.

Personality
All stereotypes are true, except... IV: “You can’t judge a book by its cover”

Satoshi Kanazawa on May 4, 2008

Both Tom Hanks and Ray Liotta are handsome white Hollywood actors roughly the same age. But I am willing to bet that these two actors have never auditioned for the same part in their careers. (Imagine Ray Liotta sitting on a park bench, uttering the line “My name is Forrest Gump. People call me Forrest Gump.”) Why is this? Why are actors typecast?

Both Tom Hanks and Ray Liotta are handsome white Hollywood actors roughly the same age. But I am willing to bet that these two actors have never auditioned for the same part in their careers. (Imagine Ray Liotta sitting on a park bench, uttering the line “My name is Forrest Gump. People call me Forrest Gump.”) Why is this? Why are actors typecast?

Play
Why Do Boys and Girls Prefer Different Toys?

Satoshi Kanazawa on April 18, 2008

Throughout the world, boys and girls prefer to play with different types of toys.

Throughout the world, boys and girls prefer to play with different types of toys.

Relationships
All men are Beavis and Butt-head

Satoshi Kanazawa on March 30, 2008

You may think that Beavis and Butt-head are buffoonish cartoon characters, and real men and boys don’t behave like them. Well, you’d be wrong, and I have a Federal class-action lawsuit to prove it.

You may think that Beavis and Butt-head are buffoonish cartoon characters, and real men and boys don’t behave like them. Well, you’d be wrong, and I have a Federal class-action lawsuit to prove it.

Religion
Why do we believe in God? II

Satoshi Kanazawa on March 28, 2008

Religion is a cultural universal. Humans in every known society practice some type of religion. So it’s tempting to believe that religiosity is part of evolved human nature, that humans are evolutionarily designed to be religious. Well, the answer is yes and no.

Religion is a cultural universal. Humans in every known society practice some type of religion. So it’s tempting to believe that religiosity is part of evolved human nature, that humans are evolutionarily designed to be religious. Well, the answer is yes and no.

Relationships
Why Do We Believe in God?

Satoshi Kanazawa on March 24, 2008

Question: Why do we believe in God?Answer: Beavis and Butt-head.Good night, everybody! Drive home safely, and don’t forget to tip your waitress!

Question: Why do we believe in God?Answer: Beavis and Butt-head.Good night, everybody! Drive home safely, and don’t forget to tip your waitress!

Defense Mechanisms
If you want to know what women have been up to...

Satoshi Kanazawa on March 14, 2008

Another piece of physiological evidence of women’s promiscuity throughout evolutionary history is the precise shape of the human penis and what men do with it.

Another piece of physiological evidence of women’s promiscuity throughout evolutionary history is the precise shape of the human penis and what men do with it.

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November 2024
The Perfectionism Trap

When we fall prey to perfectionism, we think we’re honorably aspiring to be our very best, but often we’re really just setting ourselves up for failure, as perfection is impossible and its pursuit inevitably backfires.

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