The Human Beast

Loneliness

Why Loneliness Is a Killer

Nigel Barber Ph.D. on May 24, 2023

Loneliness is more dangerous than smoking 15 cigarettes a day. This is a sobering conclusion at a time when loneliness is increasing in the U.S., particularly for the young.

Loneliness is more dangerous than smoking 15 cigarettes a day. This is a sobering conclusion at a time when loneliness is increasing in the U.S., particularly for the young.

Diet

Is It a Mistake to Exercise for Weight Loss?

Nigel Barber Ph.D. on May 18, 2023

Physically active communities experience lower levels of obesity. So how could a Time magazine article advise people not to exercise for weight loss?

Physically active communities experience lower levels of obesity. So how could a Time magazine article advise people not to exercise for weight loss?

Gender

Green Spending and Gender

Nigel Barber Ph.D. on May 10, 2023

Much consumer spending is discretionary, so changing habits can help protect the planet, but men and women approach environmentally-conscious spending in different ways.

Much consumer spending is discretionary, so changing habits can help protect the planet, but men and women approach environmentally-conscious spending in different ways.

Media

Problems of Social Media in Evolutionary Perspective

Nigel Barber Ph.D. on May 2, 2023

Social networks solved problems of survival in the evolutionary past. Social media today are used for different purposes.

Social networks solved problems of survival in the evolutionary past. Social media today are used for different purposes.

Diet

Of Physical Activity, Fat, and Pharmaceuticals

Nigel Barber Ph.D. on April 12, 2023

Fashionable weight-loss drugs represent one more example of fast pharmacological remedies for behavioral problems driven by modern lifestyles.

Fashionable weight-loss drugs represent one more example of fast pharmacological remedies for behavioral problems driven by modern lifestyles.

Artificial Intelligence

Can AI Be Evil?

Nigel Barber Ph.D. on March 31, 2023

Can electronic devices follow independent objectives that are hostile to all human interests?

Can electronic devices follow independent objectives that are hostile to all human interests?

Anger

Are Humans Inherently Warlike?

Nigel Barber Ph.D. on March 23, 2023

Anthropologists studying the Yanomami tribe inhabiting the banks of the Orinoco River in South America concluded that they were selected for warfare.

Anthropologists studying the Yanomami tribe inhabiting the banks of the Orinoco River in South America concluded that they were selected for warfare.

Career

Threatening Household Appliances

Nigel Barber Ph.D. on March 9, 2023

Electric appliances are morphing into hostile agents subject to the control of governments, hackers, criminals, and electronic engineers.

Electric appliances are morphing into hostile agents subject to the control of governments, hackers, criminals, and electronic engineers.

Sensation-Seeking

Reading, and Streaming, for Pleasure: An Evolutionary View

Nigel Barber Ph.D. on February 16, 2023

Text and visual imagery have replaced the oral entertainment that early humans relied on. What happens when there's always something new to consume?

Text and visual imagery have replaced the oral entertainment that early humans relied on. What happens when there's always something new to consume?

Sensation-Seeking

Travel as a Transformative Experience

Nigel Barber Ph.D. on February 9, 2023

Even as they wake up to the climate cost of airline travel, more and more people are flying abroad. How is that possible?

Even as they wake up to the climate cost of airline travel, more and more people are flying abroad. How is that possible?

Emotion Regulation

The Internet as a Shared Brain

Nigel Barber Ph.D. on January 31, 2023

The individual brain combines rational and emotional data. Today, much of that information is derived from the Internet, which functions like a shared brain.

The individual brain combines rational and emotional data. Today, much of that information is derived from the Internet, which functions like a shared brain.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence Is Coming for Human Creativity

Nigel Barber Ph.D. on January 18, 2023

Artificial Intelligence not only exposes our cerebral limitations. It threatens human creativity altogether.

Artificial Intelligence not only exposes our cerebral limitations. It threatens human creativity altogether.

Positive Psychology

Why Finland Is So Happy

Nigel Barber Ph.D. on January 12, 2023

Modern societies deviate from ancestral hunter-gatherer conditions in several ways that undermine happiness. Finland is an exception.

Modern societies deviate from ancestral hunter-gatherer conditions in several ways that undermine happiness. Finland is an exception.

Motivation

Can We Restrain Our Excessive Consumption to Arrest Climate Change?

Nigel Barber Ph.D. on January 5, 2023

Money spent is roughly equivalent to carbon pollution and climate change.

Money spent is roughly equivalent to carbon pollution and climate change.

Guilt

Generosity and Guilt Are Connected

Nigel Barber Ph.D. on December 14, 2022

Some of us are more generous than others. Could we be banking community goodwill or are we motivated by internal conflicts?

Some of us are more generous than others. Could we be banking community goodwill or are we motivated by internal conflicts?

Sex

The Evolution of Female Anatomy

Nigel Barber Ph.D. on November 30, 2022

With feminism on the rise, we should not be surprised that scientific research on the anatomy and physiology of the clitoris is catching up with research on the penis.

With feminism on the rise, we should not be surprised that scientific research on the anatomy and physiology of the clitoris is catching up with research on the penis.

Sex

Evolution Is Gender-Neutral

Nigel Barber Ph.D. on November 28, 2022

Evolutionary theory treats the sexes equally.

Evolutionary theory treats the sexes equally.

Environment

Sleepwalking Toward the Abyss

Nigel Barber Ph.D. on November 16, 2022

We have a long record of taking too much from the environment. Our excesses are catching up with us. How did our species become such a threat to the planet?

We have a long record of taking too much from the environment. Our excesses are catching up with us. How did our species become such a threat to the planet?

Relationships

Authoritarianism and Family Relationships

Nigel Barber Ph.D. on October 21, 2022

What children learn about authority fits the realities of adult political life. Gender differences play a key role also.

What children learn about authority fits the realities of adult political life. Gender differences play a key role also.

Animal Behavior

The Super Senses of Cats

Nigel Barber Ph.D. on October 5, 2022

Like wild cats, domestic cats retain keen senses of sight, hearing, and smell. Several other specialized sensory capabilities favor their success, and survival, as ace predators.

Like wild cats, domestic cats retain keen senses of sight, hearing, and smell. Several other specialized sensory capabilities favor their success, and survival, as ace predators.