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| human nature psychology: Psychology and 'Human Nature' Peter Ashworth, 2012-11-12 Psychology and 'Human Nature' problematizes what psychology usually takes for granted - the meaning of the psyche or 'human nature'. Peter Ashworth provides a coherent account of many of the major schools of thought in psychology and its related disciplines, including: sociobiology and evolutionary psychology, psychoanalysis, cognitive psychology, radical behaviourism, existentialism, discursive psychology and postmodernism. For each approach he considers the claims or assumptions being made about 'human nature', especially regarding issues of consciousness, the self, the body, other people and the physical world. Psychology and 'Human Nature' will be essential reading for all students of psychology. Series Details; The Psychology Focus Series provides students with a new focus on key topic areas in psychology. Each short book: * presents clear, in-depth coverage of a discrete area with many applied examples * assumes no prior knowlede of psychology * has been written by an experienced teacher * has chapter summaries, annotated further reading and a glossary of key terms |
| human nature psychology: Practical Psychology Edward Stevens Robinson, 2007-03 PREFACE. THE Author of this very practical treatise on Scotch Loch - Fishing desires clearly that it may be of use to all who had it. He does not pretend to have written anything new, but to have attempted to put what he has to say in as readable a form as possible. Everything in the way of the history and habits of fish has been studiously avoided, and technicalities have been used as sparingly as possible. The writing of this book has afforded him pleasure in his leisure moments, and that pleasure would be much increased if he knew that the perusal of it would create any bond of sympathy between himself and the angling community in general. This section is interleaved with blank shects for the readers notes. The Author need hardly say that any suggestions addressed to the case of the publishers, will meet with consideration in a future edition. We do not pretend to write or enlarge upon a new subject. Much has been said and written-and well said and written too on the art of fishing but loch-fishing has been rather looked upon as a second-rate performance, and to dispel this idea is one of the objects for which this present treatise has been written. Far be it from us to say anything against fishing, lawfully practised in any form but many pent up in our large towns will bear us out when me say that, on the whole, a days loch-fishing is the most convenient. One great matter is, that the loch-fisher is depend- ent on nothing but enough wind to curl the water, -and on a large loch it is very seldom that a dead calm prevails all day, -and can make his arrangements for a day, weeks beforehand whereas the stream- fisher is dependent for a good take on the state of the water and however pleasant and easy it may be for one living near the banks of a good trout stream or river, it is quite another matter to arrange for a days river-fishing, if one is looking forward to a holiday at a date some weeks ahead. Providence may favour the expectant angler with a good day, and the water in order but experience has taught most of us that the good days are in the minority, and that, as is the case with our rapid running streams, -such as many of our northern streams are, -the water is either too large or too small, unless, as previously remarked, you live near at hand, and can catch it at its best. A common belief in regard to loch-fishing is, that the tyro and the experienced angler have nearly the same chance in fishing, -the one from the stern and the other from the bow of the same boat. Of all the absurd beliefs as to loch-fishing, this is one of the most absurd. Try it. Give the tyro either end of the boat he likes give him a cast of ally flies he may fancy, or even a cast similar to those which a crack may be using and if he catches one for every three the other has, he may consider himself very lucky. Of course there are lochs where the fish are not abundant, and a beginner may come across as many as an older fisher but we speak of lochs where there are fish to be caught, and where each has a fair chance. Again, it is said that the boatman has as much to do with catching trout in a loch as the angler. Well, we dont deny that. In an untried loch it is necessary to have the guidance of a good boatman but the same argument holds good as to stream-fishing... |
| human nature psychology: On Human Nature Michel Tibayrenc, Francisco J. Ayala, 2016-09-12 On Human Nature: Biology, Psychology, Ethics, Politics, and Religion covers the present state of knowledge on human diversity and its adaptative significance through a broad and eclectic selection of representative chapters. This transdisciplinary work brings together specialists from various fields who rarely interact, including geneticists, evolutionists, physicians, ethologists, psychoanalysts, anthropologists, sociologists, theologians, historians, linguists, and philosophers. Genomic diversity is covered in several chapters dealing with biology, including the differences in men and apes and the genetic diversity of mankind. Top specialists, known for their open mind and broad knowledge have been carefully selected to cover each topic. The book is therefore at the crossroads between biology and human sciences, going beyond classical science in the Popperian sense. The book is accessible not only to specialists, but also to students, professors, and the educated public. Glossaries of specialized terms and general public references help nonspecialists understand complex notions, with contributions avoiding technical jargon. - Provides greater understanding of diversity and population structure and history, with crucial foundational knowledge needed to conduct research in a variety of fields, such as genetics and disease - Includes three robust sections on biological, psychological, and ethical aspects, with cross-fertilization and reciprocal references between the three sections - Contains contributions by leading experts in their respective fields working under the guidance of internationally recognized and highly respected editors |
| human nature psychology: Adapting Minds David J. Buller, 2006-02-17 Was human nature designed by natural selection in the Pleistocene epoch? The dominant view in evolutionary psychology holds that it was—that our psychological adaptations were designed tens of thousands of years ago to solve problems faced by our hunter-gatherer ancestors. In this provocative and lively book, David Buller examines in detail the major claims of evolutionary psychology—the paradigm popularized by Steven Pinker in The Blank Slate and by David Buss in The Evolution of Desire—and rejects them all. This does not mean that we cannot apply evolutionary theory to human psychology, says Buller, but that the conventional wisdom in evolutionary psychology is misguided. Evolutionary psychology employs a kind of reverse engineering to explain the evolved design of the mind, figuring out the adaptive problems our ancestors faced and then inferring the psychological adaptations that evolved to solve them. In the carefully argued central chapters of Adapting Minds, Buller scrutinizes several of evolutionary psychology's most highly publicized discoveries, including discriminative parental solicitude (the idea that stepparents abuse their stepchildren at a higher rate than genetic parents abuse their biological children). Drawing on a wide range of empirical research, including his own large-scale study of child abuse, he shows that none is actually supported by the evidence. Buller argues that our minds are not adapted to the Pleistocene, but, like the immune system, are continually adapting, over both evolutionary time and individual lifetimes. We must move beyond the reigning orthodoxy of evolutionary psychology to reach an accurate understanding of how human psychology is influenced by evolution. When we do, Buller claims, we will abandon not only the quest for human nature but the very idea of human nature itself. |
| human nature psychology: The Laws of Human Nature Robert Greene, 2018-10-23 From the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The 48 Laws of Power comes the definitive new book on decoding the behavior of the people around you Robert Greene is a master guide for millions of readers, distilling ancient wisdom and philosophy into essential texts for seekers of power, understanding and mastery. Now he turns to the most important subject of all - understanding people's drives and motivations, even when they are unconscious of them themselves. We are social animals. Our very lives depend on our relationships with people. Knowing why people do what they do is the most important tool we can possess, without which our other talents can only take us so far. Drawing from the ideas and examples of Pericles, Queen Elizabeth I, Martin Luther King Jr, and many others, Greene teaches us how to detach ourselves from our own emotions and master self-control, how to develop the empathy that leads to insight, how to look behind people's masks, and how to resist conformity to develop your singular sense of purpose. Whether at work, in relationships, or in shaping the world around you, The Laws of Human Nature offers brilliant tactics for success, self-improvement, and self-defense. |
| human nature psychology: The Science of Human Nature William Henry Pyle, 1917 This book is written for young students in high schools and normal schools. No knowledge can be of more use to a young person than a knowledge of himself; no study can be more valuable to him than a study of himself. A study of the laws of human behavior, --that is the purpose of this book. What is human nature like? Why do we act as we do? How can we make ourselves different? How can we make others different? How can we make ourselves more efficient? How can we make our lives more worth while? This book is a manual intended to help young people to obtain such knowledge of human nature as will enable them to answer these questions. I have not attempted to write a complete text on psychology. There are already many such books, and good ones too. I have selected for treatment only such topics as young students can study with interest and profit. I have tried to keep in mind all the time the practical worth of the matters discussed, and the ability and experience of the intended readers. |
| human nature psychology: Social Psychology and Human Nature Francis Eppes Eminent Scholar and Professor of Psychology Roy F Baumeister, PhD, Brad J. Bushman, Roy F. Baumeister, 2007 This fascinating reader includes articles, which are referenced within the main text, that will help you understand the book's main themes. |
| human nature psychology: What's Left of Human Nature? Maria Kronfeldner, 2023-10-31 A philosophical account of human nature that defends the concept against dehumanization, Darwinian, and developmentalist challenges. Human nature has always been a foundational issue for philosophy. What does it mean to have a human nature? Is the concept the relic of a bygone age? What is the use of such a concept? What are the epistemic and ontological commitments people make when they use the concept? In What's Left of Human Nature? Maria Kronfeldner offers a philosophical account of human nature that defends the concept against contemporary criticism. In particular, she takes on challenges related to social misuse of the concept that dehumanizes those regarded as lacking human nature (the dehumanization challenge); the conflict between Darwinian thinking and essentialist concepts of human nature (the Darwinian challenge); and the consensus that evolution, heredity, and ontogenetic development result from nurture and nature. After answering each of these challenges, Kronfeldner presents a revisionist account of human nature that minimizes dehumanization and does not fall back on outdated biological ideas. Her account is post-essentialist because it eliminates the concept of an essence of being human; pluralist in that it argues that there are different things in the world that correspond to three different post-essentialist concepts of human nature; and interactive because it understands nature and nurture as interacting at the developmental, epigenetic, and evolutionary levels. On the basis of this, she introduces a dialectical concept of an ever-changing and “looping” human nature. Finally, noting the essentially contested character of the concept and the ambiguity and redundancy of the terminology, she wonders if we should simply eliminate the term “human nature” altogether. |
| human nature psychology: Understanding human nature the psychology of personality Alfred Adler, 2024-04-17 Understanding Human Nature: The Psychology of Personality is a seminal work by Alfred Adler, an Austrian psychiatrist and psychotherapist. Published in 1927, this book presents Adler's theories on personality and human behavior, which laid the foundation for the school of individual psychology. In the book, Adler explores the fundamental aspects of human nature, including the dynamics of personality development, the influence of social factors, and the significance of individual experiences and perceptions. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the subjective experiences of individuals and how they shape their behavior and worldview. One of Adler's key concepts is the inferiority complex, which he argues is a driving force behind human behavior. He suggests that individuals strive for superiority to overcome feelings of inferiority, and that these efforts shape their personality and motivations. Understanding Human Nature offers insights into various aspects of human psychology, including the formation of personality traits, the role of early childhood experiences, and the impact of societal influences. Adler's holistic approach to understanding human behavior continues to influence psychology and psychotherapy to this day. |
| human nature psychology: Human Nature and Suffering Paul Gilbert, 2016-08-05 Human Nature and Suffering is a profound comment on the human condition, from the perspective of evolutionary psychology. Paul Gilbert explores the implications of humans as evolved social animals, suggesting that evolution has given rise to a varied set of social competencies, which form the basis of our personal knowledge and understanding. Gilbert shows how our primitive competencies become modified by experience - both satisfactorily and unsatisfactorily. He highlights how cultural factors may modify and activate many of these primitive competencies, leading to pathology proneness and behaviours that are collectively survival threatening. These varied themes are brought together to indicate how the social construction of self arises from the organization of knowledge encoded within the competencies. This Classic Edition features a new introduction from the author, bringing Gilbert's early work to a new audience. The book will be of interest to clinicians, researchers and historians in the field of psychology. |
| human nature psychology: Human Nature Malcolm Jeeves, 2006-04 Malcolm Jeeves, former editor-in-chief of Neuropsychologia, a leading international scientific journal in behavioral and cognitive neuroscience, explores the intersection of science and faith in defining what it means to be human. He reports on recent scientific research on consciousness and the link between mind, brain, and behavior. He examines issues such as determinism by indicating the possible relevance of chaos theory to enduring concerns about freedom and responsibility. He looks at similarities and differences between human nature and animal nature. He reexamines traditional dualist views of soul and body in the light of contemporary research on mind and brain and argues for a wholistic model. This leads to addressing questions such as: does spiritual awareness depend on the intactness of our brains or does spirituality stand apart from our biological substrate? |
| human nature psychology: Psychology of Sustainable Development Peter Schmuck, P. Wesley Schultz, 2002-04-30 This text clarifies the meaning of sustainable development and describes the conditions necessary for it to occur. |
| human nature psychology: Assumptions about Human Nature Lawrence S. Wrightsman, 1991-10-23 This book, which is in its second edition, provides a provocative mirror from which to discern more clearly one′s own assumptions about human nature. . . . I found myself reflecting on the subject matter and its impact on my own life, including relationships, teaching, research, and therapy. . . . The author has done a superb job of raising our consciousness about human nature in this book, an I strongly recommend it to academic and applied psychologists. If you need an invitation to examine your views about human nature, this book is it. --C. R. Snyder, University of Kansas, Lawrence In general, are people trustworthy or unreliable, altruistic or selfish? Are they simple and easy to understand or complex and beyond comprehension? Our assumptions about human nature color everything from the way we bargain with a used-car dealer to our expectations about further conflict in the Middle East. Because our assumptions about human nature underlie our reactions to specific events, Wrightsman designed this second edition to enhance our understanding of human nature--the relationship of attitudes to behavior, the unidimensionality of attitudes, and the influence of social movements on beliefs. Psychologists, social workers, researchers, and students will find Assumptions About Human Nature an illuminating exploration into the philosophies of human nature. |
| human nature psychology: The Blank Slate Steven Pinker, 2003-08-26 A brilliant inquiry into the origins of human nature from the author of Rationality, The Better Angels of Our Nature, and Enlightenment Now. Sweeping, erudite, sharply argued, and fun to read..also highly persuasive. --Time Finalist for the Pulitzer Prize Updated with a new afterword One of the world's leading experts on language and the mind explores the idea of human nature and its moral, emotional, and political colorings. With characteristic wit, lucidity, and insight, Pinker argues that the dogma that the mind has no innate traits-a doctrine held by many intellectuals during the past century-denies our common humanity and our individual preferences, replaces objective analyses of social problems with feel-good slogans, and distorts our understanding of politics, violence, parenting, and the arts. Injecting calm and rationality into debates that are notorious for ax-grinding and mud-slinging, Pinker shows the importance of an honest acknowledgment of human nature based on science and common sense. |
| human nature psychology: The Altruistic Brain Donald W Pfaff, 2014-11-13 Since the beginning of recorded history, law and religion have provided rules that define good behavior. When we obey such rules, we assign to some external authority the capacity to determine how we should act. Even anarchists recognize the existence of a choice as to whether or not to obey, since no one has seriously doubted that the source of social order resides in our vast ethical systems. Debate has focused only on whose system is best, never for an instant imagining that law, religion, or some philosophical permutation of either was not the basis of prosocial action. The only divergence from this uniform understanding of human society has come from the behavioral sciences, which cite various biological bases for human goodness. Putting aside both ancient and relatively modern ethical systems, neuroscientists, psychologists, and evolutionary biologists have started a revolution more profound than any anarchist ever dreamed of. In essence, these researchers argue that the source of good human behavior - of the benevolence that we associate with the highest religious teachings - emanates from our physical make-up. Our brains, hormones, and genes literally embody our social compasses. In The Altruistic Brain, renowned neuroscientist Donald Pfaff provides the latest, most far-reaching argument in support of this revolution, explaining in exquisite detail how our neuroanatomical structure favors kindness towards others. Unlike any other study in its field, The Altruistic Brain synthesizes all the most important research into how and why - at a purely physical level - humans empathize with one another and respond altruistically. It demonstrates that human beings are wired to behave altruistically in the first instance, such that unprompted, spontaneous kindness is our default behavior; such behavior comes naturally, irrespective of religious or cultural determinants. Based on his own research and that of some of the world's most eminent scientists, Dr. Pfaff puts together well-established brain mechanisms into a theory that is at once novel but also easily demonstrable. He further explains how, using psycho-social approaches that are now well understood, we can clear away obstacles to the brain's natural, altruistic inclinations. This is the first book not only to explain why we are naturally good, but to suggest means of making us behave as well as we can. The Altruistic Brain is required reading for anyone who wants to understand the behavioral revolution in science and the promise that it holds for reorienting society towards greater cooperation. |
| human nature psychology: Exploring Human Nature Jana Lemke, 2018 This work presents a reflexive mixed methods study of young adults' experiences of solo time in the wilderness and the impact on these individuals' attitudes and values in the face of global change. |
| human nature psychology: On Human Nature Roger Scruton, 2017-02-14 A brief, radical defense of human uniqueness from acclaimed philosopher Roger Scruton In this short book, acclaimed writer and philosopher Roger Scruton presents an original and radical defense of human uniqueness. Confronting the views of evolutionary psychologists, utilitarian moralists, and philosophical materialists such as Richard Dawkins and Daniel Dennett, Scruton argues that human beings cannot be understood simply as biological objects. We are not only human animals; we are also persons, in essential relation with other persons, and bound to them by obligations and rights. Our world is a shared world, exhibiting freedom, value, and accountability, and to understand it we must address other people face to face and I to I. Scruton develops and defends his account of human nature by ranging widely across intellectual history, from Plato and Averroës to Darwin and Wittgenstein. The book begins with Kant's suggestion that we are distinguished by our ability to say I—by our sense of ourselves as the centers of self-conscious reflection. This fact is manifested in our emotions, interests, and relations. It is the foundation of the moral sense, as well as of the aesthetic and religious conceptions through which we shape the human world and endow it with meaning. And it lies outside the scope of modern materialist philosophy, even though it is a natural and not a supernatural fact. Ultimately, Scruton offers a new way of understanding how self-consciousness affects the question of how we should live. The result is a rich view of human nature that challenges some of today's most fashionable ideas about our species. |
| human nature psychology: The 48 Laws of Power (Special Power Edition) Robert Greene, 2023-11-14 This limited, collector’s edition of The 48 Laws of Power features a vegan leather cover, gilded edges with a lenticular illustration of Robert Greene and Machiavelli, and designed endpapers. This is an authorized edition of the must-have book that’s guided millions to success and happiness, from the New York Times bestselling author and foremost expert on power and strategy. A not-to-be-missed Special Power Edition of the modern classic, now beautifully packaged in a vegan leather cover with gilded edges, including short new notes to readers from Robert Greene and packager Joost Elffers. Greene distills three thousand years of the history of power into 48 essential laws by drawing from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz as well as the lives of figures ranging from Henry Kissinger to P.T. Barnum. Including a hidden special effect that features portraits of Machiavelli and Greene appearing as the pages are turned, this invaluable guide takes readers through our greatest thinkers, past to present. This multi-million-copy New York Times bestseller is the definitive manual for anyone interested in gaining, observing, or defending against ultimate control. |
| human nature psychology: Nature Via Nurture Matt Ridley, 2003-04-29 Following his highly praised and bestselling book Genome: The Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters, Matt Ridley has written a brilliant and profound book about the roots of human behavior. Nature via Nurture explores the complex and endlessly intriguing question of what makes us who we are. In February 2001 it was announced that the human genome contains not 100,000 genes, as originally postulated, but only 30,000. This startling revision led some scientists to conclude that there are simply not enough human genes to account for all the different ways people behave: we must be made by nurture, not nature. Yet again biology was to be stretched on the Procrustean bed of the nature-nurture debate. Matt Ridley argues that the emerging truth is far more interesting than this myth. Nurture depends on genes, too, and genes need nurture. Genes not only predetermine the broad structure of the brain, they also absorb formative experiences, react to social cues, and even run memory. They are consequences as well as causes of the will. Published fifty years after the discovery of the double helix of DNA, Nature via Nurture chronicles a revolution in our understanding of genes. Ridley recounts the hundred years' war between the partisans of nature and nurture to explain how this paradoxical creature, the human being, can be simultaneously free-willed and motivated by instinct and culture. Nature via Nurture is an enthralling,up-to-the-minute account of how genes build brains to absorb experience. |
| human nature psychology: Understanding Human Nature Alfred Adler, 1927 Adler explores the development of our personality, introducing all his key themes to explore the nature of the psyche, how character forms, how we see the world, and how we become who we are. |
| human nature psychology: On Psychological Language Graham Richards, 2021-12-01 First published in 1989, On Psychological Language and the Physiomorphic Basis of Human Nature was written to provide a new and controversial analysis of the nature of psychological language. The book argues that psychological concepts of all kinds are ultimately derived from concepts about the external world, so that ‘human nature’ is nothing more than ‘internalized Nature’. It draws attention to problems regarding the nature of linguistic reference, and puts forward a route for considering human psychological evolution, raising questions about the nature of psychology as a discipline and its relationship with the physical sciences. This ‘physiomorphic theory’ challenged ways of thinking about psychological language at the time of original publication. Interdisciplinary in its approach, On Psychological Language and the Physiomorphic Basis of Human Nature has enduring relevance for those with an interest in psychology, anthropology, philosophy, and linguistics. |
| human nature psychology: PERSONALITY PSYCHOLOGY RANDY. LARSEN, 2017 |
| human nature psychology: The Origins of Human Nature David F. Bjorklund, Anthony D. Pellegrini, 2002 The origins of human nature offers readers the first book-length attempt to define the field of evolutionary developmental psychology -- the application of the principle of natural selection to explain contemporary human development. The authors point out that an evolutionary -- developmental perspective allows one to view gene -- environment interactions, the significance of individual differences, and the role of behavior and development in evolution in much greater depth. The authors also focus on how an evolutionary perspective can foster a better understanding of human development and how developmental processes may have influenced the course of human evolution. Of particular interest are chapters that explore factors influencing parenting and other aspects of family life; the role of play; and the interacting roles of an extended juvenile period, a big brain, and a complex social structure in human cognitive evolution. The authors present a hybrid approach to evolution and development, pointing out that though underlying assumptions held by evolutionary and developmental psychologists have been at odds, each field has much to offer the other. |
| human nature psychology: Nature and Psychology Anne R. Schutte, Julia C. Torquati, Jeffrey R. Stevens, 2021-08-23 This volume is comprised of contributions to the 67th Nebraska Symposium on Motivation, which brought together various research disciplines such as psychology, education, health sciences, natural resources, environmental studies to investigate the ways in which nature influences cognition, health, human behavior, and well-being. The symposium is positioned to explore two proposed mechanisms in the most depth: 1) the psycho-evolutionary theory of stress recovery and 2) Attention Restoration Theory. The contributions in the volume represent research guided by both of these posited mechanisms, rigorously examine these theories and processes, and share methodological innovations that can be utilized across programs of research. This volume will be of great interest to researchers on natural environments, practitioners and clinicians working with an environmental lens at the intersection of psychology, social work, education and the health sciences, as well as researchers and students in environmental and conservation psychology. Chapter 5 is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com. |
| human nature psychology: Judeo-Christian Perspectives on Psychology William R. Miller, Harold D. Delaney, 2005 This volume is the result and final report of a scholarly process initiated by the Pew Charitable Trusts. Pew issued a challenge to eight academic disciplines: Assemble a panel of senior scholars to identify the dominant models within your discipline, comparing and contrasting them with historic Christian perspectives regarding human nature. The identified disciplines were economics, history, law, literature, philosophy, political science, psychology, and sociology. In this volume, the chapters deal primarily with the Jewish and Christian perspectives of these and subsequent matters. Each chapter has also benefited from critique by at least 16 senior colleagues across four rounds of review. It is the hope of the editors that this text will help stimulate an increasing dialogue between psychology and faith perspectives in the decades to come--Introd. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2005 APA, all rights reserved). |
| human nature psychology: Conservation Psychology Susan Clayton, Gene Myers, 2011-09-19 This textbook introduces the reader to the new and emerging field of Conservation Psychology, which explores connections between the study of human behavior and the achievement of conservation goals. People are often cast as villains in the story of environmental degradation, seen primarily as a threat to healthy ecosystems and an obstacle to conservation. But humans are inseparable from natural ecosystems. Understanding how people think about, experience, and interact with nature is crucial for promoting environmental sustainability as well as human well-being. The book first summarizes theory and research on human cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses to nature and goes on to review research on people's experience of nature in wild, managed, and urban settings. Finally, it examines ways to encourage conservation-oriented behavior at both individual and societal levels. Throughout, the authors integrate a wide body of published literature to demonstrate how and why psychology is relevant to promoting a more sustainable relationship between humans and nature. |
| human nature psychology: Beyond Human Nature Jesse J Prinz, 2012-01-26 In this provocative, revelatory tour de force, Jesse Prinz reveals how the cultures we live in - not biology - determine how we think and feel. He examines all aspects of our behaviour, looking at everything from our intellects and emotions, to love and sex, morality and even madness. This book seeks to go beyond traditional debates of nature and nurture. He is not interested in finding universal laws but, rather, in understanding, explaining and celebrating our differences. Why do people raised in Western countries tend to see the trees before the forest, while people from East Asia see the forest before the trees? Why, in South East Asia, is there a common form of mental illness, unheard of in the West, in which people go into a trancelike state after being startled? Compared to Northerners, why are people in the American South more than twice as likely to kill someone over an argument? And, above all, just how malleable are we? Prinz shows that the vast diversity of our behaviour is not engrained. He picks up where biological explanations leave off. He tells us the human story. |
| human nature psychology: Between Mind and Nature Roger Smith, 2013-06-01 From William James to Ivan Pavlov, John Dewey to Sigmund Freud, the Würzburg School to the Chicago School, psychology has spanned centuries and continents. Today, the word is an all-encompassing name for a bewildering range of beliefs about what psychologists know and do, and this intrinsic interest in knowing how our own and other’s minds work has a story as fascinating and complex as humankind itself. In Between Mind and Nature, Roger Smith explores the history of psychology and its relation to religion, politics, the arts, social life, the natural sciences, and technology. Considering the big questions bound up in the history of psychology, Smith investigates what human nature is, whether psychology can provide answers to human problems, and whether the notion of being an individual depends on social and historical conditions. He also asks whether a method of rational thinking exists outside the realm of natural science. Posing important questions about the value and direction of psychology today, Between Mind and Nature is a cogently written book for those wishing to know more about the quest for knowledge of the mind. |
| human nature psychology: Animal Nature and Human Nature W.H. Thorpe, 2018-02-19 Our views on human nature are fundamental to the whole development, indeed the whole future, of human society. Originally published in 1974, Professor Thorpe believed that this was one of the most important and significant topics to which a biologist can address himself, and in this book he attempts a synthetic view of the nature of man and animal based on the five disciplines of physiology, ethology, genetics, psychology and philosophy. In a masterly survey of the natural order he shows the animal world as part of, yet distinct from, the inanimate world. He then treats aspects of the animal world which approach the human world in behaviour and capabilities, examining simple organisms, communications in vertebrates and invertebrates, innate behaviour versus acquired behaviour, and animal perception. In the second part of the book he deals with those aspects of human nature for which there is no analogy and which constitute man’s uniqueness – his consciousness of his past, his awareness of his future and his desire to understand the meaning of his existence. The primary facts which demonstrate the importance of this book arise from the ever-growing power of man over his environment and his apparent inability to foresee and cope with the dangers of uncontrolled population growth on the one hand and the wildly irrational waste and degradation of the natural resources of the world on the other. Professor Thorpe believes that an immense responsibility lies with literate men of good will, particularly scientists, to convince man that he is the spearhead and custodian of a stupendous evolutionary process. Animal Nature and Human Nature integrates scientific fact with sound theological thought in an attempt to fulfil, in a manner previously impossible Pascal’s injunction that: ‘It is dangerous to show man too clearly how much he resembles the beast without at the same time showing him his greatness. It is also dangerous to allow him too clear a vision of his greatness without his baseness. It is even more dangerous to leave him in ignorance of both. But it is very profitable to show him both.’ |
| human nature psychology: The nature of human nature Ellsworth Faris, 1969 |
| human nature psychology: The Brighter Side Of Human Nature Alfie Kohn, 2008-08-05 Drawing from hundreds of studies in half a dozen fields, The Brighter Side of Human Nature makes a powerful case that caring and generosity are just as natural as selfishness and aggression. This lively refutation of cynical assumptions about our species considers the nature of empathy and the causes of war, why we (incorrectly) explain all behavior in terms of self-interest, and how we can teach children to care. |
| human nature psychology: The Science of Human Nature William Henry Pyle, 1917 This book is written for young students in high schools and normal schools. No knowledge can be of more use to a young person than a knowledge of himself; no study can be more valuable to him than a study of himself. A study of the laws of human behavior, --that is the purpose of this book. What is human nature like? Why do we act as we do? How can we make ourselves different? How can we make others different? How can we make ourselves more efficient? How can we make our lives more worth while? This book is a manual intended to help young people to obtain such knowledge of human nature as will enable them to answer these questions. I have not attempted to write a complete text on psychology. There are already many such books, and good ones too. I have selected for treatment only such topics as young students can study with interest and profit. I have tried to keep in mind all the time the practical worth of the matters discussed, and the ability and experience of the intended readers. |
| human nature psychology: Killer Instinct Nadine Weidman, 2021-10-19 A historian of science examines key public debates about the fundamental nature of humans to ask why a polarized discourse about nature versus nurture became so entrenched in the popular sciences of animal and human behavior. Are humans innately aggressive or innately cooperative? In the 1960s, bestselling books enthralled American readers with the startling claim that humans possessed an instinct for violence inherited from primate ancestors. Critics responded that humans were inherently loving and altruistic. The resulting debateÑfiercely contested and highly publicÑleft a lasting impression on the popular science discourse surrounding what it means to be human. Killer Instinct traces how Konrad Lorenz, Robert Ardrey, and their followers drew on the sciences of animal behavior and paleoanthropology to argue that the aggression instinct drove human evolutionary progress. Their message, spread throughout popular media, brought pointed ripostes. Led by the anthropologist Ashley Montagu, opponents presented a rival vision of human nature, equally based in biological evidence, that humans possessed inborn drives toward love and cooperation. Over the course of the debate, however, each side accused the other of holding an extremist position: that behavior was either determined entirely by genes or shaped solely by environment. Nadine Weidman shows that what started as a dispute over the innate tendencies of animals and humans transformed into an opposition between nature and nurture. This polarized formulation proved powerful. When E. O. Wilson introduced his sociobiology in 1975, he tried to rise above the oppositional terms of the aggression debate. But the controversy over WilsonÕs workÑled by critics like the feminist biologist Ruth HubbardÑwas ultimately absorbed back into the nature-versus-nurture formulation. Killer Instinct explores what happens and what gets lost when polemics dominate discussions of the science of human nature. |
| human nature psychology: Conversations on Human Nature Agustín Fuentes, Aku Visala, 2016-07 Based on interviews with twenty leading scholars, Conversations on Human Nature probes the question of what it means to be human from evolutionary, biological, philosophical, cultural, and theological points of view. |
| human nature psychology: Human Nature and the Limits of Science John Dupré, 2001 Dupré warns that our understanding of human nature is being distorted by two faulty and harmful forms of pseudo-scientific thinking. He claims it is important to resist scientism - an exaggerated conception of what science can be expected to do. |
| human nature psychology: Born to Be Good: The Science of a Meaningful Life Dacher Keltner, 2009-10-05 “A landmark book in the science of emotions and its implications for ethics and human universals.”—Library Journal, starred review In this startling study of human emotion, Dacher Keltner investigates an unanswered question of human evolution: If humans are hardwired to lead lives that are “nasty, brutish, and short,” why have we evolved with positive emotions like gratitude, amusement, awe, and compassion that promote ethical action and cooperative societies? Illustrated with more than fifty photographs of human emotions, Born to Be Good takes us on a journey through scientific discovery, personal narrative, and Eastern philosophy. Positive emotions, Keltner finds, lie at the core of human nature and shape our everyday behavior—and they just may be the key to understanding how we can live our lives better. Some images in this ebook are not displayed owing to permissions issues. |
| human nature psychology: Being Human Richard Gross, 2019 While there may be no one single characteristic that differentiates humans as a species, it is the combination of differences from other species that makes us unique. The new edition of Being Human examines the psychology of being human through exploring different psychological traditions alongside philosophy and evolutionary theory, covering themes such as culture, cognition, language, morality, and society. Our nature - or 'essence' - is something that has preoccupied human beings throughout our history, beginning with philosophy and religion, and continuing through the biological, social, and psychological sciences. Being Human begins by describing some of the major philosophical accounts of human nature, from Ancient Greek philosophers, such as Plato and Aristotle, to major British and Continental philosophers, such as Locke and Nietzsche. The book considers religious accounts of human nature, with their focus on the nature of good and evil, and scientific accounts of genetics and the brain, which underpin the distinctively human cognitive ability of language. Attention then turns to the ideas of the behaviourists, such as Skinner, Freud, and other psychodynamic psychologists, and humanistic-phenomenological psychologists, such as Maslow. Finally, human culture is discussed as the ultimate defining characteristic of human beings: culture represents our 'natural habitat' and what defines us as a species. This updated second edition includes increased coverage of social psychology and has a broader scope, in order to identify the defining characteristics of human beings. With reference to current psychological research and philosophical material, this is fascinating reading for students of psychology, philosophy, and the social sciences. |
| human nature psychology: HUMAN NATURE: A New Theory of Psychology Dick Minnerly, 2014-09-19 HUMAN NATURE is a comprehensive work that proceeds from theory to science to practice, so it is directed to a broad audience with varying interests and levels of knowledge, and it will be an invaluable reference in anyone’s library for life. Its new theories in metaphysics, epistemology, and psychology, along with the new moral and political theories they imply, give its readers a complete and realistic philosophy of life, as well as a powerful new tool that reveals the innate nature of any person whose birth date they know. Whether they use this tool to understand themselves or others, they will see, as they never could before, the underlying truths about people’s motives, thoughts, feelings, judgments, morals, politics, and practical decisions. |
| human nature psychology: Not So Different Nathan H. Lents, 2016 With evidence from psychology, evolutionary biology, cognitive science, anthropology and ethnolgy, the biologist Nathan H. Lents argues that the same evolutionary forces of cooperation and competition have shaped both humans and animals. |
| human nature psychology: Understanding Human Nature (Psychology Revivals) Alfred Adler, 2013-06-26 Originally published in 1928 this book was an attempt to acquaint the general public with the fundamentals of Individual Psychology. At the same time it is a demonstration of the practical application of these principles to the conduct of everyday relationships, and the organization of our personal life. Based upon a years’ lectures to audiences at the People’s Institute in Vienna, the purpose of the book was to point out how the mistaken behaviour of the individual affects harmony of our social and communal life; to teach the individual to recognize their own mistakes; and finally, to show them how they may effect a harmonious adjustment to the communal life. Adler felt that mistakes in business or in science were costly and deplorable, but mistakes in the conduct of life are usually dangerous to life itself. This book is dedicated by the author in his preface ‘to the task of illuminating man’s progress toward a better understanding of human nature.’ |
Human or Not: Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the Human or Not game. Learn about the game, its purpose, who the humans and AI bots in the game are, and more.
The Turing Test: Explained through Human or Not Game
"Human or Not" is the Turing Test in turbo mode and all online. It's like playing "Guess Who?" but with real people and sneaky AIs. Here's the deal: You're in this digital guessing game, trying to …
Human or Not: Classified Files
Explore the Turing Test concept through our AI-powered 'Human or Not?' interactive game. Historical context. Current progress, our plans. How to participate.
Human or Not: Start Human or AI game
Start playing game here: Do a search, find a match, chat and then guess if you're conversing with a human or an AI bot in this Turing test-inspired challenge.
Human or Not: Launch Story From Idea Inception to 80k Games a …
According to AI21 Labs' research, humanornot.ai has achieved impressive results: 40% of human votes were incorrect after conversing with bots, indicating that 40% of the time, humans …
Human or Not: Terms of Use for Humans
Read the terms of use for the Human or Not game. Understand the rules, your rights, and our responsibilities before you start playing.
Human or Not: A Social Turing Game is Back, Play Now
Play a super fun chatroulette game! Try to figure out if you’re talking to a human or an AI bot. Do you think you can spot who's who?
Human or Not: Privacy Policy
Read the privacy policy for the Human or Not game. Understand how we handle your data, your rights, and our responsibilities before you start playing
Chatting About Historical Figures: Human or Bot?
Human or Bot? Two players discuss their admiration for controversial historical leaders like Hitler and Stalin in a casual and insensitive manner. Human or not?
Mysterious Chat Session: Is It A Human Or Chat Bot?
A curious exchange where one party seems to be testing if the other is a chat bot or human, with repeated instructions to stay within limits.
Human or Not: Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the Human or Not game. Learn about the game, its purpose, who the humans and AI bots in the game are, and more.
The Turing Test: Explained through Human or Not Game
"Human or Not" is the Turing Test in turbo mode and all online. It's like playing "Guess Who?" but with real people and sneaky AIs. Here's the deal: You're in this digital guessing game, trying to …
Human or Not: Classified Files
Explore the Turing Test concept through our AI-powered 'Human or Not?' interactive game. Historical context. Current progress, our plans. How to participate.
Human or Not: Start Human or AI game
Start playing game here: Do a search, find a match, chat and then guess if you're conversing with a human or an AI bot in this Turing test-inspired challenge.
Human or Not: Launch Story From Idea Inception to 80k Games a …
According to AI21 Labs' research, humanornot.ai has achieved impressive results: 40% of human votes were incorrect after conversing with bots, indicating that 40% of the time, humans …
Human or Not: Terms of Use for Humans
Read the terms of use for the Human or Not game. Understand the rules, your rights, and our responsibilities before you start playing.
Human or Not: A Social Turing Game is Back, Play Now
Play a super fun chatroulette game! Try to figure out if you’re talking to a human or an AI bot. Do you think you can spot who's who?
Human or Not: Privacy Policy
Read the privacy policy for the Human or Not game. Understand how we handle your data, your rights, and our responsibilities before you start playing
Chatting About Historical Figures: Human or Bot?
Human or Bot? Two players discuss their admiration for controversial historical leaders like Hitler and Stalin in a casual and insensitive manner. Human or not?
Mysterious Chat Session: Is It A Human Or Chat Bot?
A curious exchange where one party seems to be testing if the other is a chat bot or human, with repeated instructions to stay within limits.
