The Human Beast

Why we do what we do.

Evolutionary psychologist Nigel Barber is the author of Why Parents Matter, The Science of Romance, among other books. See full bio

April 7, 2009

Ethical Conduct in the Moral Right

Members of a religion are obliged to comply with its ethical principles. How good are religious people at living up to what is expected of them? Are they more ethical than atheists, for example? Let's review the evidence. Read More

April 2, 2009

Is Southern violence due to a culture of honor?

Southern states of the U.S. have higher violent crime rates than the rest of the country (1). Moreover, Southern men may be more willing to stand up for themselves using physical aggression - particularly if they have been insulted, or believe their homes are threatened. Read More

March 31, 2009

Does better diet equal a larger brain?

Despite having large brains our ancestors left few signs of intelligent behavior. A million years ago, their tools were primitive and unvaried. Read More

March 26, 2009

The Lukewarm French and the Hot Finns

Growing up in Ireland, in an earlier generation, a person's chance of being sexually active outside marriage was low. Even the use of contraception was illegal. Read More

March 21, 2009

Did Stone-Age men and women sleep around and should we care?

Marriage is a contract. All contracts imply potential conflicts of interest. Men cheat on their wives (1). Women deceive their husbands - more often than is generally appreciated. Read More

March 17, 2009

Why do humans have such big brains (part I)?

We are the smartest species on the planet, so we have the largest brains in proportion to our body size. Read More

March 12, 2009

Does watching TV make us stupid?

Synonyms of television include "idiot box," "boob tube," "goggle box," and other equally unflattering descriptors. The viewer is denigrated as a "couch potato." Is it true that the one-eyed monster robs us of the ability to think for ourselves?
Read More

March 7, 2009

Why conservatives spend more on pornography

As far as online adult entertainment is concerned, the Red states are also the red light states. Eight of the top ten pornography consuming states went for McCain in the presidential election (the two exceptions, Florida and Hawaii went democratic). Read More

March 4, 2009

What has extramarital sex got to do with violent crime?

Extramarital sex is the principal factor in high violent crime rates in the Americas (North, South, and Central). This surprising conclusion calls for some explanation. As promised, here it is. Read More

February 28, 2009

Why Is the New World So Violent: Parenting or Sex?

When Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue, he must have stowed a few kegs of trouble! As well as sharing a similar history of colonization from Europe, the countries of the Americas (North, Central, and South) are by far the most violent region of the world in terms of crime (see Murder map). Read More

Books by Nigel Barber, Ph.D.

The Myth of Culture: Why We Need a Genuine Natural Science of Societies

Kindness In A Cruel World: The Evolution Of Altruism

The Science of Romance: Secrets of the Sexual Brain

Encyclopedia of Ethics in Science and Technology (Facts on File Science Library)

Why Parents Matter: Parental Investment and Child Outcomes

Evolutionary Psychology Basics

Our bodies evolved over eons, slowly calibrating to the African savanna on which 98 percent of our ancestors lived and died. So, too, did our brains. Evolutionary psychology postulates that the mind is shaped by pressure to survive and reproduce. We jealously guard romantic partners and cherish our closest relatives above all others, lest we fail to pass on our genes.

Go to the Evolutionary Psychology Basics page for more on Evolutionary Psychology including:

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Books by Nigel Barber, Ph.D.

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