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From Darwin to Eternity

The Implications for Psychology of Evolution at Every Level (Biological, Cultural, and Cosmological)

Leadership
Did Leaders Evolve To Be Good Or Evil?

Michael E. Price Ph.D. on June 9, 2014

Did the human leader-follower relationship evolve as a kind of mutually-beneficial exchange interaction? And if so, why are we so often plagued by leaders who focus more on exploiting their followers than on benefiting them? A new paper provides answers.

Did the human leader-follower relationship evolve as a kind of mutually-beneficial exchange interaction? And if so, why are we so often plagued by leaders who focus more on exploiting their followers than on benefiting them? A new paper provides answers.

Ethics and Morality
Can Morality Be Based on Reason? My Response to Sam Harris

Michael E. Price Ph.D. on February 10, 2014

'New Atheist' Sam Harris recently offered $20,000 to anybody who could convince him, in a 1,000-word essay, to change his mind about how morality can be based on scientific reasoning. Here's the essay I submitted.

'New Atheist' Sam Harris recently offered $20,000 to anybody who could convince him, in a 1,000-word essay, to change his mind about how morality can be based on scientific reasoning. Here's the essay I submitted.

Ethics and Morality
What Should the Function of Morality Be?

Michael E. Price Ph.D. on February 6, 2014

What is morality supposed to accomplish, and for whom? Too often we're expected to behave morally, without having any understanding of morality's purpose.

What is morality supposed to accomplish, and for whom? Too often we're expected to behave morally, without having any understanding of morality's purpose.

Ethics and Morality
Morality Should Manage Human Competitiveness, Not Ignore It

Michael E. Price Ph.D. on January 15, 2014

Many evolution-minded moral philosophers have implored us to maximize the happiness of others, and to suppress our own competitiveness. But is this approach to morality really the best way forward?

Many evolution-minded moral philosophers have implored us to maximize the happiness of others, and to suppress our own competitiveness. But is this approach to morality really the best way forward?

Ethics and Morality
How Evolution Enables Morality: A Talk With Jonathan Haidt

Michael E. Price Ph.D. on October 31, 2013

Jonathan Haidt, one of the world's best-known psychologists and public intellectuals, wants to know how evolution enables human morality. I interviewed him to find out more about his approach to evolutionary moral psychology.

Jonathan Haidt, one of the world's best-known psychologists and public intellectuals, wants to know how evolution enables human morality. I interviewed him to find out more about his approach to evolutionary moral psychology.

Sport and Competition
Is Equality Boring?

Michael E. Price Ph.D. on July 29, 2013

Income inequality apparently leads to diverse social problems, from obesity to murder. So why don't Americans prioritize it as an economic problem? Maybe they just think equality sounds boring.

Income inequality apparently leads to diverse social problems, from obesity to murder. So why don't Americans prioritize it as an economic problem? Maybe they just think equality sounds boring.

Optimism
Human Herding: How People are Like Guppies

Michael E. Price Ph.D. on June 25, 2013

Like guppies and many other species, humans herd in order to obtain resources and evade threats. But while herding seems like a safe and prudent strategy to the individuals doing it, it can create massive risks for societies that depend on market economies.

Like guppies and many other species, humans herd in order to obtain resources and evade threats. But while herding seems like a safe and prudent strategy to the individuals doing it, it can create massive risks for societies that depend on market economies.

Deception
The Simplest Way to Fix Banking: End Bonuses

Michael E. Price Ph.D. on February 20, 2013

EU countries are currently considering placing strict limitations on the size of banker bonuses. Is this a good idea? If you value the survival of (Western?) civilization, then the answer in yes.

EU countries are currently considering placing strict limitations on the size of banker bonuses. Is this a good idea? If you value the survival of (Western?) civilization, then the answer in yes.

Bias
Punish the Shirkers! Especially the Low-status Ones

Michael E. Price Ph.D. on January 28, 2013

When politicians speak of punishing freeloaders, they portray it as a matter of fairness. But their moralizing is too often undermined by a status-based selectivity that isn’t fair at all: low-status people don't freeload more than high-status people, but they're more likely to get punished for it. Why does this bias exist?

When politicians speak of punishing freeloaders, they portray it as a matter of fairness. But their moralizing is too often undermined by a status-based selectivity that isn’t fair at all: low-status people don't freeload more than high-status people, but they're more likely to get punished for it. Why does this bias exist?

Infidelity
Why Cheaters Win

Michael E. Price Ph.D. on November 6, 2012

Human nature is adapted for cheating, but it's also adapted for fair play. How can we create environments in which our adaptations for fairness are allowed to prevail?

Human nature is adapted for cheating, but it's also adapted for fair play. How can we create environments in which our adaptations for fairness are allowed to prevail?

Sport and Competition
Does "Group Selection" Explain Behavior in Investment Banks?

Michael E. Price Ph.D. on August 3, 2012

The relevance of group selection to human affairs is one of the most contentious issues in behavioral science. How well does group selection explain behavior in organizations like investment banks? Either pretty well or pretty terribly, depending on what you mean by "group selection".

The relevance of group selection to human affairs is one of the most contentious issues in behavioral science. How well does group selection explain behavior in organizations like investment banks? Either pretty well or pretty terribly, depending on what you mean by "group selection".

Altruism
Resolving the Debate about Group Selection in Humans

Michael E. Price Ph.D. on July 10, 2012

Is "group selection" necessary for explaining human cooperation? This question can be answered only via appeals to the evidence, and the evidence suggests that individuals are exquisitely designed both to harvest the benefits of cooperation in groups, and also to minimize the costs of being exploited by free riders.

Is "group selection" necessary for explaining human cooperation? This question can be answered only via appeals to the evidence, and the evidence suggests that individuals are exquisitely designed both to harvest the benefits of cooperation in groups, and also to minimize the costs of being exploited by free riders.

Ethics and Morality
Morality: What is it Good For?

Michael E. Price Ph.D. on June 29, 2012

People are passionate about morality, but morality is too important to leave to passion alone. In order to be more rational about morality, we need to consider the origins, nature, and usefulness of morality, and doing so requires an evolutionary perspective.

People are passionate about morality, but morality is too important to leave to passion alone. In order to be more rational about morality, we need to consider the origins, nature, and usefulness of morality, and doing so requires an evolutionary perspective.

Career
Self-Interest as God’s Interest

Michael E. Price Ph.D. on May 14, 2012

In order to persuade others to join their cause, people often portray their own interests as the interests of some higher-level entity such as society, humanity, or God. Why is this such a common rhetorical strategy, and why does it frequently backfire?

In order to persuade others to join their cause, people often portray their own interests as the interests of some higher-level entity such as society, humanity, or God. Why is this such a common rhetorical strategy, and why does it frequently backfire?

Embarrassment
What's Your Social Status? Depends Who You Ask

Michael E. Price Ph.D. on February 24, 2012

In complex societies such as our own, it’s possible to be high status in one segment of society while being low status in another. When diverse status communities co-exist in this way, is it good or bad for society? And why do such different definitions of “high status” emerge in the first place?

In complex societies such as our own, it’s possible to be high status in one segment of society while being low status in another. When diverse status communities co-exist in this way, is it good or bad for society? And why do such different definitions of “high status” emerge in the first place?

Altruism
The Dark Side of Altruism

Michael E. Price Ph.D. on January 27, 2012

The mobster Jimmy Burke was renowned both for his spectacular generosity and his terrifying cruelty. How could two traits that seem so different co-exist in the same person?

The mobster Jimmy Burke was renowned both for his spectacular generosity and his terrifying cruelty. How could two traits that seem so different co-exist in the same person?

Evolutionary Psychology
Why Evolutionary Psychology Is Unlikely to Be Wrong

Michael E. Price Ph.D. on December 13, 2011

Are evolutionary psychology's core assumptions radical and extraordinary? Many people still think so. From a biological perspective, however, it would actually be far more extraordinary if these assumptions were wrong than if they were right.

Are evolutionary psychology's core assumptions radical and extraordinary? Many people still think so. From a biological perspective, however, it would actually be far more extraordinary if these assumptions were wrong than if they were right.