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The Scientific Fundamentalist

A look at the hard truths about human nature.

Evolutionary Psychology
How to Be Happy

Satoshi Kanazawa on December 7, 2008

Positive psychology is all the rage these days, and everybody wants the secret key to happiness.  Go figure; everybody wants to be happy.  What can evolutionary psychology say about how to be happy?

Positive psychology is all the rage these days, and everybody wants the secret key to happiness.  Go figure; everybody wants to be happy.  What can evolutionary psychology say about how to be happy?

Evolutionary Psychology
Apparently, I was right about Michael Phelps

Satoshi Kanazawa on December 4, 2008

At the end of August, right after the conclusion of the Beijing Olympics, I posted a piece entitled “Apparently, Michael Phelps does everything he does in order to get laid.”  Apparently, I was right.

At the end of August, right after the conclusion of the Beijing Olympics, I posted a piece entitled “Apparently, Michael Phelps does everything he does in order to get laid.”  Apparently, I was right.

Evolutionary Psychology
When inclusion costs and ostracism pays, ostracism still hurts

Satoshi Kanazawa on November 30, 2008

The Savanna Principle, a fundamental observation of evolutionary psychology, states that the human brain has difficulty comprehending and dealing with entities and situations that did not exist in the ancestral environment. An incredibly ingenious experiment brilliantly illustrates this point.

The Savanna Principle, a fundamental observation of evolutionary psychology, states that the human brain has difficulty comprehending and dealing with entities and situations that did not exist in the ancestral environment. An incredibly ingenious experiment brilliantly illustrates this point.

Relationships
Which grandparent are you closest to?

Satoshi Kanazawa on November 13, 2008

Every human being has four grandparents:  Paternal grandfather, paternal grandmother, maternal grandfather, and maternal grandmother.  

Every human being has four grandparents:  Paternal grandfather, paternal grandmother, maternal grandfather, and maternal grandmother.  

Genetics
Age of puberty, and what parental divorce means for girls

Satoshi Kanazawa on November 6, 2008

Another individual trait which follows the 50-0-50 rule is the age of puberty, in particular, the age at which girls experience menarche (onset of menstruation).

Another individual trait which follows the 50-0-50 rule is the age of puberty, in particular, the age at which girls experience menarche (onset of menstruation).

Divorce
The 50-0-50 rule in action: Sociosexual orientation and risk of divorce

Satoshi Kanazawa on November 2, 2008

Another personality trait on which genes exert a very strong influence, and the effect of the shared environment is essentially zero, is sociosexual orientation (whether you are sexually promiscuous or not) and, as a consequence, the risk of divorce.

Another personality trait on which genes exert a very strong influence, and the effect of the shared environment is essentially zero, is sociosexual orientation (whether you are sexually promiscuous or not) and, as a consequence, the risk of divorce.

Evolutionary Psychology
Two logical fallacies that we must avoid.

Satoshi Kanazawa on October 19, 2008

In any discussion of evolutionary psychology, or human sciences in general, it is very important to avoid two logical fallacies.  They are called the naturalistic fallacy and the moralistic fallacy.

In any discussion of evolutionary psychology, or human sciences in general, it is very important to avoid two logical fallacies.  They are called the naturalistic fallacy and the moralistic fallacy.

Environment
Why human evolution pretty much stopped about 10,000 years ago

Satoshi Kanazawa on October 16, 2008

The British geneticist Steve Jones has recently given a lecture at University College London entitled “Is human evolution over?”  His answer to his own question is in the affirmative.  I agree with Jones that human evolution has pretty much stopped, but for entirely different reasons.

The British geneticist Steve Jones has recently given a lecture at University College London entitled “Is human evolution over?”  His answer to his own question is in the affirmative.  I agree with Jones that human evolution has pretty much stopped, but for entirely different reasons.