I have a profound lesson to teach.
Yet, not a single person on the face of this Earth knows how to make me.
Humans are themost cooperative specieson the planet all part of a huge interconnected ecosystem.
We have sent thousands of satellites spinning around the planet.
Yet we can also be surprisingly intolerant of each other.
The amygdala.CLIPAREA/Shutterstock
Most human attitudes and behaviorhave both a genetic and an environmental component.
Hardwired into the brains amygdala regionis a fear reflexthat is primed by encounters with the unfamiliar.
In premodern times, it made sense to be fearful of other groups.
They might be violent, steal our resources, or introduce new diseases we are not adapted to.
And whenwe help these kin, our own genes are more likely to be passed to future generations.
Whats more, if the other person reciprocates the good deed, we benefit even more.
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Whether we tolerate and trust someone or fear and reject them depends a lot on this culture.
Thats because they generally lead to a more harmonious, mutually-beneficial society.
The trouble with tribalism
This is exactly what has made us such a cooperative species.
But sometimes our cultures can be less progressive.
What people around us say and do subconsciously influences the way we think.
We soak up this cultural context like a sponge, and it subtly shapes our attitudes and behaviors.
It presses the buttons of certain deep-seated xenophobic attitudes within us.
In fact, it discourages hard-learned inhibitory responses in the brainsprefrontal cortexthat get built up under more progressive contexts.
Movements such as Nazism have openly promoted xenophobia and bigotry.
Things seem to be moving in this direction today.
China caused this nightmare.
It can even shape our beliefs in what we might think are purely rational issues.
For example, the belief in whether humans are causing climate changeis strongly associatedwith US political party membership.
This tribalism can all feel very visceral and natural because, well, in a way, it is.
It fires up the primal parts of our brain designed for such responses.
Imbalanced cultures produce imbalanced brains.
Consider the tendency to become overweight in modern society.
In premodern times, sugary and fatty foodswere rare and valuablefor humans.
Now, they are everywhere.
Surely our modern cultures can protect us from these innate drives when they are unhealthy for ourselves and society?
We can also change our own behavior, for example laying down new routines and healthier eating habits.
Climate change could boost bigotry
But what about bigotry and xenophobia?
Cant we simply design the right fixes for them?
That may depend on how big the problems we face in the future are.
The climate crisis could boost bigotry.
Such societies are more likely to elect authoritarian leaders and toshow prejudicetowards outsiders.
The same goes for the coronavirus pandemic.
While many hope such outbreakscan lead to a better world, they could do exactly the opposite.
But it isnot beneficial in a globalized world, where ecological issues and our economies transcend national boundaries.
Rewiring the brain
Thankfully, we can use rational thinking to develop strategies to overcome these attitudes.
An important first step is appreciating our connectedness to other people.
But taken too far, self-centered individualism can prevent us from solving collective problems.
Outdoor community activitieshave been shown toincrease our psychological connectedness to others.
Even computer games and books can bedesigned to increase empathy.
Lets defuse this ticking ethical timebomb and shame those who stoke flames of bigotry beneath it.
It is possible to steer our cultures and rewire our brains so that xenophobia and bigotry all but disappear.
