On: Tribe.

Episode: N/A

Date: December 2018

Background: Journalist, author of “Tribe“.

Key Subjects:

• Humans need to be needed:
  • Autonomy / control.
  • Respect.
  • Good relations with their community.
• Self-interest versus social animal:
  • The worse the circumstances, the more your survival depends on the group – becomes adaptive to be pro-social.
  • No crisis: revert back to competition and pursuing own interests – becomes adaptive to be focused on self-interest.
  • Both behaviors contribute to well-being.
  • Hunter-gatherer = ongoing low-level crisis (toggle back and forth between group and own interests).
  • Modern society = mostly no crisis, mostly self-interest.
  • Group norms change to reflect this (rewarding and punishing the appropriate group behavior – pursuing your own or the group’s interests).
• Things are more meaningful in crisis / combat:
  • Shared goals.
  • [Coherence of actions and goals – not discussed, constant feedback, ie you are surviving].
  • Disappears when crisis is over.
• Tribalism:
  • Part of human nature.
  • Missing: crisis driven group mentality, smaller more cohesive groups.
  • Searching for it elsewhere (politics, sports).

Key Takeaways:

• See Book Summary.

Worth Listening:

7/10