@@hartkopz86 when the gov't takes away guns from law abiding people- thatis fascism ie authoritarianism. and when gov't meddles in religion - that also is authoritarianism ie fascism , "liberal" world order , etc and how is nationalistic authority , inferior to internationalistic authority ? answ. it aint
From Australia, it sure seems weird. Heavily Christian orientated while simultaneously seeming to believe guns are a human right. In other words, one of the amendments is in direct conflict with one of the commandments - and it's somehow not spoken of! Hell even the first amendment is trampled on by "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me".
That's because not one thing in the US experience is based in reality. Imagine slave owners and thrives thinking they could make up a society based on the inalienable basic rights of all man,,,,,,,just not any who were not white, who were not Christian or the entire female gender. It's steeped in hypocrisy and outright lies.
The original white immigrants to the area which became the 13 English colonies in mid N. America were religious radicals: Pilgrims/Puritans/ Quakers/Anabaptists. So there shouldn't be any surprise about the Christianist aspects.
@@yvonneplant9434 not true, some colonies were started by religious nutters while others we not at all. Many had no religious affiliations at all in fact.
It is weird that most Americans think they are exceptional even when they themselves have done nothing exceptional. Most Americans don't know about their own country let alone the other countries around the world. They don't want to improve themselves and that is weird.
One of the things I've always found Americans is that many I have met don't seem to have a good grasp of the world outside the US. It's almost a naivety of some sort, hard to put my finger on - but it's just there.
that is how it looks to others b/c americans are all about america rather than the world. it's a definite blind spot. most americans don't think much about what exists outside of the USA
Most Americans have never left the country, but it’s understandable in a way, due to geography. It’s not like Europeans who can fly to most parts of Europe in a couple of hours, or take trains. In Europe international travel is short and cheap…
I went to Amsterdam for 10 days. And on the trip, stayed one night in Paris, and one in Istanbul. I was 50 yrs old, from Central Texas, and that experience changed my life forever. I learned alot about who we are.. and who we are not. Basically my perception of who i thought we were was wrong. I was a fish out of water, however painful at times, it was the most educational experience of my lifetime.
@@jujutrini8412 I hope you will have more opportunities to travel. That was my biggest trip ever. I learned that there is so much more to life than what I knew. Now I'm about ready to move away from here. We are such a mess it's embarrassing
@@Regi254. I hope to be able to travel soon also. I think travelling helped me to be more of an optimist. I earnestly think most people are inherently good. I experienced real kindness from total strangers who had absolutely no obligation to help me at all but did so out of the kindness of their heart. It also taught me to value the things I have when so many have hardly anything at all. I think it taught me to recognise conmen also. I understand what you are saying about the state of things but I am trying to give you some hope. Peace.
We were in the 1950s, 60s & 70s, 80s. Partly because we had some amazing people like MLK JR, and partly because we were the least affected by WW2 in the 1940s. Families in the 50s + were benefitting from profits of the high demand for American products/industry, since factories almost everywhere else were in crippled, war damaged countries. We didn't get bombed. So, as bad as the world economy got, America's was better....
As a Norwegian, I'm pretty sure we can be perceived as weird in a number of ways. However, I do appreciate the fact that there's no room for incorporating religion into politics. We actually have quite a few guns too, but they are locked in a safe 50 weeks of the year.
Good for you. That is why the Norwegian region is weaker than the US by all means follow the EU example for weakness. That will make the annexation easier.
Hierarchies are pivotal to sustaining the WEIRD culture. Nobody can make everything happen by themselves, alone, but money can purchase the efforts of others. In the meantime, everyone is taught that NOT making everything happen by yourself, on your own, is a personal failure. Of course, that's always been impossible everywhere. In modern Western mythology and American Capitalist religion, the guy with the most money is the "pope" of WEIRD-os. I submit one Elon Musk as an example.
Dear David, don't you worry we are here to stay cause we know how great you are at giving us straight answers on politics and everything else... and no one else can do it quite like you!!! Dr.Brigitte Villeneuve Quebec, Canada 🇨🇦
^ ^ Yes it is WEIRD in all senses of the word weird..... Ammuricans do not appear to have the power of self reflection while lecturing us in European countries about " freedom and democracy" when you have neither of those things.....We are too afraid to even visit your country! Foxy Pagamn LovE fae Scotland VVxx
As a Scandinavian, one weird thing with Americans to me is how politics is influenced by religion, since my own country is atheist. It feels very weird and old fashioned how religious the US is, that is a real culture crock. As for the famous arrogance, I can see it in the patriotism. The patriotism is also weird to a Scandinavian - sure we love our country, but its regarded a bit cringe to talk about it, haha - and the strange belief that anyone criticising the US does so because of jealousy, since they seem to belive that freedom and democracy is an American thing. I have talked to Americans who seem to think, that they are the most equal country in the world, while in my country, health care and education is free. Its because of lack of information about other countries I suppose, but still. That's weird!
@Kim M. A recent research ranking of FREE-est countries in the world put my country, Canada, in 10th place. All the Scandinavian countries were above that. Finland was first. The US didn't even rank in the top 50!!! 'Muricuns are so brainwashed! And most of them have so little idea about the world beyond the US itself. Hell! MOST of them known so little about the US!
Well, since we're on the topic of talking about weird things about others 🤣I'm Eastern European and what I find unusual about Germanic people in general (both Anglo-Americans and Scandinavians) is how... you guys are like robots, all brain, but no heart. I get Slavs and Latins (I'm Latin myself), I get Turks, but Germanic people are a mystery to me. "Sterile" I think is the best word how it all comes across, it's all clean and serious, but 0 soul, 0 hospitality, 0 love, 0 passion, 0 warmth. You're the Enlightenment, rigid, impersonal logic and reason... booooooring. We're Romanticism... faith and emotion, personal and spontaneous.
@@octavianpopescu4776 Haha, I think you must be an extrovert! You make the extrovert mistake of thinking that someone has no feelings just because they don't show them in public. We do have feelings, but we will wait until we are alone with people we love before we show them ;)
@@kimm.8800 😀Yeah... kinda... I'm more of an ambivert. I did take a number of psychological tests and on the introvert vs extrovert axis, I'm almost perfectly in the middle, 50-50. Usually, it's more like 52 extrovert 48 introvert, around there.
I'm a US/Irish citizen living in South Korea. This is a poor title first of all, as the discussion is about Westerners more broadly and not just Americans. But the discussion was amazing and I can definitely relate. Korea is rich and democratic but the way they think about life is much different than the way people do in the US and Europe. Both in good ways that Westerners here appreciate and also in bad ways that Westerners here find a little shocking. This is also something that you really don't notice until you have been here for a significant amount of time (like a year or more) and start learning more of the language.
Joe Henrich's other book The Secret of Our Success is the best book I've read on cultural evolution. Understanding how society evolves will help us evolve further and communicate with those who come from less evolved cultures(evangelicals for example).
Nobody, in sane condition at least, would turn away from someone who is weird in the positive sense 😉 That would rarely trigger a researcher. Actually, that positive weird isn’t unique to a certain group. I’m not American 😁👍🏼 and my weirdness let’s me interact with people more easily. From my western side of the ocean we usually look at Northern America like it is stuck in the 19th century when it comes down to subjects like religion, sexuality, racial views, social infrastructures, physical infrastructures, justice and law enforcement. In general you could say that up to 20 to 30 years ago there was a general admiration for Nort America. But due internet, end of Cold War, the broken political system that admiration turned. Many used to say that America is a place to take examples from. But especially the last twenty years people say’ look we need to be careful that our society doesn’t become like that. Sad though. I like the people., music and films. But I’m so glad that I still live in a more or less functioning democracy where I am free to succeed but don’t need to be overly scared. I hope this doesn’t appear as an attack to anyone. That is really not what I intended.
This reminds me of an economics book I read called "The Puritan's Gift" that tried to explain why the puritans were so successful and how the aspects of their culture seeped into American business and economics and created the enormous American economics engines, leading to the US leading the world in economics. Very interesting read and seems to me to parallel Mr. Henrich's findings.
Of course there's more to delayed gratification than merely self-control around material and monetary acquisition leading to savings that might be stolen or cadged off you. That developed ability to pause and think of the longer term consequences can also be applied to the ability to hold back on instinctive violence as a response to aggravation or desire. In societies where these impulses are not restricted, there tends to arise a class of overlords or bully-boys (or girls, but usually boys) - these are the world's dictators and the oligarchs, bureaucrats and enforcers that surround them. Those in that inner circle at the top of the pyramid can become enormously wealthy, but that wealth is not generally distributed evenly through the societies they preside over - the vast majority may remain as a poorly educated, impoverished and disenfranchised peasant class. This top-heavy power structure has consequences for these societies' prosperity. Generally low education plus tight government control of media enables an effective propaganda machine that keeps the masses in line, often ramping up nationalistic fervour and beliefs in dire outside threats that only the power of the Dear Leader and his enforcers can save your country from. That artificially inflated atmosphere of paranoia ensures the majority either fail to see or don't care that that power is exactly what's keeping them from enjoying the fruits of general prosperity. This is borne out by some of the rare sociological surveys taken in Russia, in which the vast majority of both the elite and the underclasses said that if they had to choose, they would prefer their country to be 'feared and respected' rather than have a 'more generally distributed economic wealth'.
That was really interesting. I’m Australian, so we fall under this category to some extent, but in my life, I’ve fallen on hard times, so I’ve had to find other ways of living.
I wonder if any connection has ever been found or studied between an individual's capacity for delay of gratification and religions that posit a differentiated afterlife. Is it possible that in cultures where the dominant religion posits a differentiated afterlife that across time selection pressures would increase capacity for delay of gratification in individuals within that culture? Perhaps in cultures where the dominant religion has no differentiated afterlife no such selection pressures would come about, thus leading to less capacity for delay of gratification in individuals compared to cultures of the other sort.
Seriously, you put two americans in the same room and you will have at least five intransigent opinions, that is until one shoots the other... "Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad"
^ ^ Ok.... I actually bothered to watch this whole video and now Im even more worried and confused about Americans! I dont know if this is relevant but yesterday I met an American family.....in the pub of course... and they were absolutely lovely but I kind of got the feeling that they felt that they were visiting an alien world Scotland {Alba} In short, Americans should travel to other countries in order to broaden their minds. Foxy Pagan Love fae Scotland......and yes we do believe in faeries VVxx
I guess yes. I fo know that my moms "greatest generation" wasn't a great time for women, minorities or the vulnerable. Think Mad Men. I know my Baby Boomer generation wanted better for our kids...but look at the state of the country? We left the country mostly to white men born in the 1930! Now, work is MORE than 40 hours a week if you want to get anywhere, houses are unreachable and millennial are at home or buying cheaply built condos. Depression is a contact sport. Schools are dangerous. Events of any kind are dangerous. The old are poor...house poor if lucky. The environment is tanking and fossil fuels depleting while also killing the planet. The alt right is having a revival! The 18 to 35 year olds are so tired...school work feels like running in place! They wanted Bernie...when Biden won, they give up on politics. Their politics are almond milk, sun tea, new age healing.... and a me-ism beyond any understanding. Tough times, and more ahead. And no sane new inspiring leaders on the horizon! Wackos like tRump and DeSantis... or tired old hats like Biden. Clinton, Bernie... Scary and frustrating. But boombers are tired...holding up the small lives we have managed to create... working into 70's to hold onto it as long as possible...to hand off to our kids!
Weird..that is subjective question. It depends on someone's delusional, yet neutral starting point. like the context its not using objectively. but judged neurotypical. like a belief with no conclusion, but supported with preconceived afterthoughts beforehand.
Hello ! I lived in the US 38 years ago. Some people qualified themselves as weird. It met different, bizarre and not understood by the rest of the people. Not twisted as Professor Joe Hendrich. Phil, Belgium. Peace.
🦘🐊🐨🍺🍺The clearest difference I find that seems to hold US back in Social Programs that rest of World put high value on, seems to stem from lack of knowledge of how any other Govts or Societies work, even with the other American Countries and their closest Allies like Australia, EU, UK Canada, Example; Medicare for all, that includes provision for those who can afford it can stay private, but their costs would be less, Private Health Cover has sliding Tax Rebate on Premiums, relative to Age and Income, like the Australian Model, is rejected by many in US even amongst people on Lower incomes, who have cover trough their work, but have not had Serious Health issues yet, even though they know someone who has, they are shown the differences in how much more US pays and with worst outcomes, you see it in so many Americans React videos, they think ok that's good agree there are people in US suffering, yet in the end still defend the US system against any other Countries. Americans are so sensitive or defensive if you try and talk to them about anything wrong with US, just look at Annas TYT response to Polish story early this week, as example we are used to such responses in person from Americans, while they find any opportunity to criticise other Countries, decide it it is their duty to tell us how we should do everything the American way. This comes down to the Myth that only Americans say, 'we are the Greatest and our way is the Best way', they can do not accept that other Countries do things better in many areas than US, that is all down to the indoctrination of Individualism that dominates the US you see the effects of it in full colour with Trump supporters, they have all been trained to think that they could all get rich like him without benefit of Generational Wealth. America is very isolationist as they were 100 years ago, even inside the US if something does not effect the individual personally, they see no reason to change anything for other. Many in US do not even know other countries like Canada ECT have Constitutions that they actually keep up to Date like US one was meant to be done every 20 years. Three short YT videos all Americans should watch now in lead up to Elections (should not say lead up because you are always in Election Mode it is exhausting and what leads to so much Division) David Cross Why America Sucks Second Thought Why Americans are Treated so badly That's Pretty Cool How Australians Elections Work (UN say fairest system but we do not just know it gives us better results and Govts that work) Make sure reds fist few Comments as he left out very important part AEC independent agency that Runs all Elections, Local, State, Federal, Counting, Does Mobile Poling in Prisons, yes Prisoners in for less than 3 years vote once leave there is no question at Polls re Criminal record, those things are for Candidate who have to be of good character, Hosp, Aged Care, every remote community, with Candidate or their Reps Traveling to Scrutineer and hold Q & A before voting time, I live in 2nd largest Electorate more than twice the size of Texas including 17small islands, I have never waited longer than 5 mins to vote, 15 mins is considered a long wait here, but that just gives you more time to have a Yarn, eat a extra Democracy Sausage or grab extra item of Cake Stalls. Fact check on the 1975 Govt Dismissal that GG was involved in UK and Royals were not involved like some thought, that was Dirty Tricks from Murdoch and Libs with GG, was only time it happened. Also we do not Close down our Govt, Elections last 6 weeks, Govt goes into Caretaker Mode so no last minute sneaky appointments or tricks can be pulled, if Emergency arises bot Current and Opposition Leaders work together on decision, we do not go straight back into Election Mode loser Concedes then they go back sometimes work out what they did wrong, then back to work in their Electorate working for Voters, Sometimes can be Three week before know who will Govern, if it is Hung Parliament the Party that can secure Supply and Demand Support from Minor Parties and Independents Governs. Here Liberal & Nationals are the Conservative they are a Coalition, only way Libs can win Nationals are normally Reps from the Regional/bush Labor Party is oldest party born out of our Union Movement, Winners still use word Comrades in Acceptance and other Speeches from PM down. We work very well most the time with Greens and Most Independents, our Pollies are rarely Show Ponies they are Best Person to represent us may be a Tradies or Lawyer (not to many of those like in US).as long as Smart in some way and of good Character with passion to make things better win or lose, we expect our Pollies to get on, off Course there is the odd flare up in Parliament when have a Govt doing nothing, Aussie are Mates no matter who they vote for, When going with AEC to cove Mobile Polling can be 1000km return trip, so to save money you travel with other Parties, you Chat to them when manning all Polling Booths, we even go for Drinks and Food together after Scrutineering, who you vote for is your business we don't wear it as Labels here, Families don't have rifts due to who they support and can talk to each other about Policies without yelling or getting upset. Money does not buy you a seat Look up Mark Humphries Clive Palmer clip 3 mins Palmer spent more than 4 x that of Major Parties did not win a single Seat, his Leader managed to lose his seat, they even attached themselves to our Anti Covid Mob, not realising that was just a loud few and Aussies are not one issue Voters, they hired US Consultants to run Campaign was disaster. Even if you choose to join a Party, many do not it is not a question on registration application form, you do not get stream of emails or Texts for Donations, will receive invites to Fund Raiser in form of list, will on last page have link if you want to Donate, there is no expectation on Party Members to Donate, do encourage people to help cover Booths at Elections and Scrutineering. Noticed that when we had our Recent Election that it was not Reported on in MSM or New Media, was not like US Media was not around we had Election on Sat before the big Quad Meeting, got an unexpected result on the night, Mon 8am New PM and Foreign Minister Sworn In quick Presser 10am on plane to Japan, Biden seemed over the Moon made lots of Jokes about Albo and his (PMs) time in US and pulled Pranks on him, is no longer that Guy from Down Under, like last Idiot PM, US press were all there not one reported on New Govt, In rest of the world most people keep up a with World News as it is reported in our Media, Australia being USAs Closest Ally, it is always disappointing the unimportant news to cover and of Couse tell us how to do things, like if a Tennis Star gets to break the Health Rules, Important News like Election that Broke all Records, that was a Decimation of the Conservatives and Uncle Rupert and Packer who own 85% of our Media (not for much longer now), Govt has now taken Huge Left Turn, after 10 years of Conservative Rule got min wage increase in three weeks, had 3 meetings with Biden and Foreign Minister. A massive win for Climate Change, Anti Corruption, Indigenous and a lot more. Our Foreign Minister has been all over Pacific and South East Asia usually only getting there a day or two in front of China and stopping many from signing Agreement with China. The Union activity going on here, Constant Floods this year NSW just gone under water last few days 4th time this year for some ECT.
Obsession with guns, nationalism, Christianity. Very weird.
Incoming fascism
@@hartkopz86 when the gov't takes away guns from law abiding people- thatis fascism ie authoritarianism.
and when gov't meddles in religion - that also is authoritarianism ie fascism , "liberal" world order , etc
and how is nationalistic authority , inferior to internationalistic authority ? answ. it aint
@@jamessilver6429 no one is coming to take your guns. You're just a paranoid nut bag.
YES. American exceptionalism has been ingrained for too long in less-than-exceptional people, the arrogance is overwhelming.
gregf, Thanks for your input. AE and
Manifest Destiny are toxic. People
die.
American's obsession with guns is weird...
Sickening is the word.
America's obsession with religious extremism is even weirder.
@@deathbytheblade6757 sickness. Mental effing sickness. Religion is poison.
As a gun owning America I agree.
@@ryanandpamo get rid of it then.
From Australia, it sure seems weird. Heavily Christian orientated while simultaneously seeming to believe guns are a human right. In other words, one of the amendments is in direct conflict with one of the commandments - and it's somehow not spoken of! Hell even the first amendment is trampled on by "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me".
Verry well spoken👏
That's because not one thing in the US experience is based in reality. Imagine slave owners and thrives thinking they could make up a society based on the inalienable basic rights of all man,,,,,,,just not any who were not white, who were not Christian or the entire female gender. It's steeped in hypocrisy and outright lies.
The original white immigrants to the area which became the 13 English colonies in mid N. America were religious radicals: Pilgrims/Puritans/ Quakers/Anabaptists. So there shouldn't be any surprise about the Christianist aspects.
@@yvonneplant9434 not true, some colonies were started by religious nutters while others we not at all. Many had no religious affiliations at all in fact.
And that’s what keeps America running...Christians and guns..🤬
Not weird, just extremely entitled and wilfully ignorant.
Like the ignorant label, VERY IMO!
Did you listen to the interview? WEIRD is an acronym for ... "Western, educated, industrialized, rich and democratic"
@@stefjones9711 wilfully ignorant.
Everyone's an editor.
It is weird that most Americans think they are exceptional even when they themselves have done nothing exceptional. Most Americans don't know about their own country let alone the other countries around the world. They don't want to improve themselves and that is weird.
Did you even watch the video?
One of the things I've always found Americans is that many I have met don't seem to have a good grasp of the world outside the US. It's almost a naivety of some sort, hard to put my finger on - but it's just there.
I'm American and I agree! It's willful, and it's too bad. We're missing out.
that is how it looks to others b/c americans are all about america rather than the world. it's a definite blind spot. most americans don't think much about what exists outside of the USA
Most Americans have never left the country, but it’s understandable in a way, due to geography. It’s not like Europeans who can fly to most parts of Europe in a couple of hours, or take trains. In Europe international travel is short and cheap…
@@stevemcgowen I agree. But still, we are missing a lot.
@@stevemcgowen We could still make more of an effort to learn about other countries/cultures. Maybe it's due to geography that we don't feel the need.
I went to Amsterdam for 10 days. And on the trip, stayed one night in Paris, and one in Istanbul. I was 50 yrs old, from Central Texas, and that experience changed my life forever. I learned alot about who we are.. and who we are not. Basically my perception of who i thought we were was wrong. I was a fish out of water, however painful at times, it was the most educational experience of my lifetime.
@Reggie245
Good for you!
Look Up Mark Twain's quote about traveling.
I am glad you learned from your experience. I wish I could travel more although I have traveled a lot compared to my peers.
@@rickkwitkoski1976 seems like I might recognize it when I see it. Gonna look it up now. 😊 😊
@@jujutrini8412 I hope you will have more opportunities to travel. That was my biggest trip ever. I learned that there is so much more to life than what I knew. Now I'm about ready to move away from here. We are such a mess it's embarrassing
@@Regi254. I hope to be able to travel soon also. I think travelling helped me to be more of an optimist. I earnestly think most people are inherently good. I experienced real kindness from total strangers who had absolutely no obligation to help me at all but did so out of the kindness of their heart. It also taught me to value the things I have when so many have hardly anything at all. I think it taught me to recognise conmen also. I understand what you are saying about the state of things but I am trying to give you some hope. Peace.
From New Zealand
The late George Carlin summed it all up about 15 to 20 years ago.
Watch him on you tube.
A truthful unflawed genius.
No human including George Carlin is unflawed. Unless you’re being hyperbolic somehow.
Um, yeah. Growing up in New Zealand, we thought American was the best place in the world. My, how times have changed.
Hear you... greetings from Germany
We were in the 1950s, 60s & 70s, 80s. Partly because we had some amazing people like MLK JR, and partly because we were the least affected by WW2 in the 1940s.
Families in the 50s + were benefitting from profits of the high demand for American products/industry, since factories almost everywhere else were in crippled, war damaged countries. We didn't get bombed. So, as bad as the world economy got, America's was better....
@@JordanS215 Yeah a real decline started with Reagan and his embrace of fundamentalist religious types to gain power for the Republican Party.
@@jujutrini8412 and trickle down economics, and doing away with the FCC Fairness act (allowing ""news" to be lies) making corporations people....
@@JordanS215 👍🏼
I have lived abroad for decades. I find most traveling Americans to be nauseating. My friends and I avoid them when we can.
As a Norwegian, I'm pretty sure we can be perceived as weird in a number of ways. However, I do appreciate the fact that there's no room for incorporating religion into politics. We actually have quite a few guns too, but they are locked in a safe 50 weeks of the year.
Same here, greetings from Germany
Unlike many Americans, you folks probably don't fetishize your guns, or attempt to somehow conflate them with an imaginary friend.
Good for you. That is why the Norwegian region is weaker than the US by all means follow the EU example for weakness. That will make the annexation easier.
@@luchicholito Religion makes you weak.
@@luchicholito but what measure? Happiness? Median living salary? Healthcare, dental or pension?
100%. Get more people like him on the show.
Hierarchies are pivotal to sustaining the WEIRD culture. Nobody can make everything happen by themselves, alone, but money can purchase the efforts of others. In the meantime, everyone is taught that NOT making everything happen by yourself, on your own, is a personal failure. Of course, that's always been impossible everywhere. In modern Western mythology and American Capitalist religion, the guy with the most money is the "pope" of WEIRD-os. I submit one Elon Musk as an example.
Trump let the dogs out.
HE IS A DOG
Dear David,
don't you worry we are here to stay cause we know how great you are at giving us straight answers on politics and everything else...
and no one else can do it quite like you!!!
Dr.Brigitte Villeneuve
Quebec, Canada 🇨🇦
I worry that David is now just preaching to the choir, it's not "us" that need to understand what he is laying out daily.
David Bowie's video "I'm afraid of American's" say's it all
✌🏽❤
So true
^ ^ Yes it is WEIRD in all senses of the word weird..... Ammuricans do not appear to have the power of self reflection while lecturing us in European countries about " freedom and democracy" when you have neither of those things.....We are too afraid to even visit your country! Foxy Pagamn LovE fae Scotland VVxx
A big hello from a sister Scot in America...McKinnon Clan. I agree and hopefully I can get out of this country in a year.
I am a American citizen and I agree with you
@@hrwhitney7567America has embraced a combat zone mentality and has become way more dangerous no matter where you are.
As a Scandinavian, one weird thing with Americans to me is how politics is influenced by religion, since my own country is atheist. It feels very weird and old fashioned how religious the US is, that is a real culture crock.
As for the famous arrogance, I can see it in the patriotism. The patriotism is also weird to a Scandinavian - sure we love our country, but its regarded a bit cringe to talk about it, haha - and the strange belief that anyone criticising the US does so because of jealousy, since they seem to belive that freedom and democracy is an American thing. I have talked to Americans who seem to think, that they are the most equal country in the world, while in my country, health care and education is free. Its because of lack of information about other countries I suppose, but still. That's weird!
@Kim M.
A recent research ranking of FREE-est countries in the world put my country, Canada, in 10th place. All the Scandinavian countries were above that. Finland was first.
The US didn't even rank in the top 50!!!
'Muricuns are so brainwashed! And most of them have so little idea about the world beyond the US itself. Hell! MOST of them known so little about the US!
I agree. American fascination with religion is disturbing. And could lead to our downfall
Well, since we're on the topic of talking about weird things about others 🤣I'm Eastern European and what I find unusual about Germanic people in general (both Anglo-Americans and Scandinavians) is how... you guys are like robots, all brain, but no heart. I get Slavs and Latins (I'm Latin myself), I get Turks, but Germanic people are a mystery to me. "Sterile" I think is the best word how it all comes across, it's all clean and serious, but 0 soul, 0 hospitality, 0 love, 0 passion, 0 warmth. You're the Enlightenment, rigid, impersonal logic and reason... booooooring. We're Romanticism... faith and emotion, personal and spontaneous.
@@octavianpopescu4776 Haha, I think you must be an extrovert! You make the extrovert mistake of thinking that someone has no feelings just because they don't show them in public. We do have feelings, but we will wait until we are alone with people we love before we show them ;)
@@kimm.8800 😀Yeah... kinda... I'm more of an ambivert. I did take a number of psychological tests and on the introvert vs extrovert axis, I'm almost perfectly in the middle, 50-50. Usually, it's more like 52 extrovert 48 introvert, around there.
I'm a US/Irish citizen living in South Korea. This is a poor title first of all, as the discussion is about Westerners more broadly and not just Americans. But the discussion was amazing and I can definitely relate. Korea is rich and democratic but the way they think about life is much different than the way people do in the US and Europe. Both in good ways that Westerners here appreciate and also in bad ways that Westerners here find a little shocking. This is also something that you really don't notice until you have been here for a significant amount of time (like a year or more) and start learning more of the language.
Feels like most people commenting didn't even watch the interview. Headline reading at its finest.
no one in the comments seem to grasp that WEIRD is an acronym
Americans have an attention span approaching zero, and comprehension ability which is even less.
Yeah, extremely stupid people.
Joe Henrich's other book The Secret of Our Success is the best book I've read on cultural evolution. Understanding how society evolves will help us evolve further and communicate with those who come from less evolved cultures(evangelicals for example).
Thank you. Some of the best interviews on the web
I think we're pretty weird, thats not at all a negative assessment, but in the context of the world stage yeah we're a bit odd 💜
Nobody, in sane condition at least, would turn away from someone who is weird in the positive sense 😉 That would rarely trigger a researcher. Actually, that positive weird isn’t unique to a certain group. I’m not American 😁👍🏼 and my weirdness let’s me interact with people more easily.
From my western side of the ocean we usually look at Northern America like it is stuck in the 19th century when it comes down to subjects like religion, sexuality, racial views, social infrastructures, physical infrastructures, justice and law enforcement.
In general you could say that up to 20 to 30 years ago there was a general admiration for Nort America. But due internet, end of Cold War, the broken political system that admiration turned. Many used to say that America is a place to take examples from. But especially the last twenty years people say’ look we need to be careful that our society doesn’t become like that.
Sad though. I like the people., music and films. But I’m so glad that I still live in a more or less functioning democracy where I am free to succeed but don’t need to be overly scared.
I hope this doesn’t appear as an attack to anyone. That is really not what I intended.
This is the birthplace of “Weird Al” Yankovic, so… 😵💫
Very interesting interview. Thanks
We’re all weird in some way but some more than others.
Weirdness is expected in a country founded on melting pot culture and democracy.
He sounds much like my hero Benjamin Franklin.
This reminds me of an economics book I read called "The Puritan's Gift" that tried to explain why the puritans were so successful and how the aspects of their culture seeped into American business and economics and created the enormous American economics engines, leading to the US leading the world in economics. Very interesting read and seems to me to parallel Mr. Henrich's findings.
Of course there's more to delayed gratification than merely self-control around material and monetary acquisition leading to savings that might be stolen or cadged off you. That developed ability to pause and think of the longer term consequences can also be applied to the ability to hold back on instinctive violence as a response to aggravation or desire.
In societies where these impulses are not restricted, there tends to arise a class of overlords or bully-boys (or girls, but usually boys) - these are the world's dictators and the oligarchs, bureaucrats and enforcers that surround them. Those in that inner circle at the top of the pyramid can become enormously wealthy, but that wealth is not generally distributed evenly through the societies they preside over - the vast majority may remain as a poorly educated, impoverished and disenfranchised peasant class.
This top-heavy power structure has consequences for these societies' prosperity. Generally low education plus tight government control of media enables an effective propaganda machine that keeps the masses in line, often ramping up nationalistic fervour and beliefs in dire outside threats that only the power of the Dear Leader and his enforcers can save your country from. That artificially inflated atmosphere of paranoia ensures the majority either fail to see or don't care that that power is exactly what's keeping them from enjoying the fruits of general prosperity. This is borne out by some of the rare sociological surveys taken in Russia, in which the vast majority of both the elite and the underclasses said that if they had to choose, they would prefer their country to be 'feared and respected' rather than have a 'more generally distributed economic wealth'.
Read this book a few months ago, amazing work.
Weird old America. The phrase has been around for a long time.
We ARE w.e.i.r.d. in lots of ways, but I'm still happy I was born here and live here. Talk to me in two years, because I may change my mind...
I wonder if Robert Hughes book " The Culture of Complaint" seems to provide practical examples of this type of research.
Hand up if you knew that WEIRD is an acronym of a set of traits studied in the social and behavioural sciences before this interview. ✋
I knew about it, I didn't know exactly what it meant, but I have heard of it before.
Yes
That was really interesting. I’m Australian, so we fall under this category to some extent, but in my life, I’ve fallen on hard times, so I’ve had to find other ways of living.
I wonder if any connection has ever been found or studied between an individual's capacity for delay of gratification and religions that posit a differentiated afterlife.
Is it possible that in cultures where the dominant religion posits a differentiated afterlife that across time selection pressures would increase capacity for delay of gratification in individuals within that culture?
Perhaps in cultures where the dominant religion has no differentiated afterlife no such selection pressures would come about, thus leading to less capacity for delay of gratification in individuals compared to cultures of the other sort.
Seriously, you put two americans in the same room and you will have at least five intransigent opinions, that is until one shoots the other...
"Those whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad"
Yes.
SOME U.S. citizens are into guns...many Americans are not...
Amazing guest.
^ ^ Ok.... I actually bothered to watch this whole video and now Im even more worried and confused about Americans! I dont know if this is relevant but yesterday I met an American family.....in the pub of course... and they were absolutely lovely but I kind of got the feeling that they felt that they were visiting an alien world Scotland {Alba} In short, Americans should travel to other countries in order to broaden their minds. Foxy Pagan Love fae Scotland......and yes we do believe in faeries VVxx
I guess yes. I fo know that my moms "greatest generation" wasn't a great time for women, minorities or the vulnerable. Think Mad Men.
I know my Baby Boomer generation wanted better for our kids...but look at the state of the country? We left the country mostly to white men born in the 1930! Now, work is MORE than 40 hours a week if you want to get anywhere, houses are unreachable and millennial are at home or buying cheaply built condos. Depression is a contact sport. Schools are dangerous. Events of any kind are dangerous. The old are poor...house poor if lucky. The environment is tanking and fossil fuels depleting while also killing the planet. The alt right is having a revival!
The 18 to 35 year olds are so tired...school work feels like running in place! They wanted Bernie...when Biden won, they give up on politics. Their politics are almond milk, sun tea, new age healing.... and a me-ism beyond any understanding.
Tough times, and more ahead.
And no sane new inspiring leaders on the horizon! Wackos like tRump and DeSantis... or tired old hats like Biden. Clinton, Bernie...
Scary and frustrating. But boombers are tired...holding up the small lives we have managed to create... working into 70's to hold onto it as long as possible...to hand off to our kids!
My history class had to write a paper on why Europe industrialized first and this paper was one of the sources we were given.
The whole world think Americans are crazy
Is that a wig or a bad dye job?
Kinda strange that I got a Jordan Peterson ad coming into this video. Thanks, RUclips...
I got a Ben Shapiro one...😳
America did have some maligned respect in the 20th century but I think that's gone. It's something between distain and hatred
The US has only meddled and interfered with every nation on earth for its own gain.
Joe Henrich, one part of the Holy Trinity of Cultural Evolution.
If by wired you mean entitled, not well educated, angry in general…then yes, they are wierd
This is deep within Protestants denomination churches.
Hello. I'm freaking out about Moore vs Harper SCOTUS Oct 2022 session. Our democracy will actually be gone. No joke.
comfort, privilege, insulation.
Weird..that is subjective question. It depends on someone's delusional, yet neutral starting point. like the context its not using objectively. but judged neurotypical. like a belief with no conclusion, but supported with preconceived afterthoughts beforehand.
Joe Henrich looks like Sean Penn to me. But a better-looking Sean Penn for sure.
I think that Steven Pinker had a different take on this subject.
At least 74 million are down syndromy
That comment is not okay. What is wrong with you?
He looks like Jason Bateman.
Jus me.
Book title sounds totally click bait-y to me - What a surprise that Western democracies would appear in the WEIRD acronym
Hello !
I lived in the US 38 years ago. Some people qualified themselves as weird. It met different, bizarre and not understood by the rest of the people. Not twisted as Professor Joe Hendrich.
Phil, Belgium. Peace.
Did you learn anything from Quackadeama
Did you really need to ask?
Blaa blaa. Everybody thinks academics are weird.
Give us your BEST evidence that the origin of life happened WITHOUT GOD
Or are MAGAs sane?
May ori? Seriously? American ignorance of pronunciation of other languages is shocking.
Yea, that's the least of our problems right now
David...your hatred of Christianity isnt disguised well
Just the weirdos.
Christianity is the backbone of this country basically
I see it as more equivalent to ball and chain. Holding us back from progress
Thats a very blanketed statement from a subjective opinion
Have you watched the video?
Yes, you ARE weird. Got any harder questions?
These two and their hairstyles are what’s weird…..🤣
Maori is NOT pronounced May-ori! It is Mow as in cow ree.
So much talk and so little said.
Did you really expect an American to pronounce it properly? Some Kiwis don't say it properly.
We
Are communist bro
🦘🐊🐨🍺🍺The clearest difference I find that seems to hold US back in Social Programs that rest of World put high value on, seems to stem from lack of knowledge of how any other Govts or Societies work, even with the other American Countries and their closest Allies like Australia, EU, UK Canada,
Example; Medicare for all, that includes provision for those who can afford it can stay private, but their costs would be less, Private Health Cover has sliding Tax Rebate on Premiums, relative to Age and Income, like the Australian Model, is rejected by many in US even amongst people on Lower incomes, who have cover trough their work, but have not had Serious Health issues yet, even though they know someone who has, they are shown the differences in how much more US pays and with worst outcomes, you see it in so many Americans React videos, they think ok that's good agree there are people in US suffering, yet in the end still defend the US system against any other Countries.
Americans are so sensitive or defensive if you try and talk to them about anything wrong with US, just look at Annas TYT response to Polish story early this week, as example we are used to such responses in person from Americans, while they find any opportunity to criticise other Countries, decide it it is their duty to tell us how we should do everything the American way.
This comes down to the Myth that only Americans say, 'we are the Greatest and our way is the Best way', they can do not accept that other Countries do things better in many areas than US, that is all down to the indoctrination of Individualism that dominates the US you see the effects of it in full colour with Trump supporters, they have all been trained to think that they could all get rich like him without benefit of Generational Wealth.
America is very isolationist as they were 100 years ago, even inside the US if something does not effect the individual personally, they see no reason to change anything for other. Many in US do not even know other countries like Canada ECT have Constitutions that they actually keep up to Date like US one was meant to be done every 20 years.
Three short YT videos all Americans should watch now in lead up to Elections (should not say lead up because you are always in Election Mode it is exhausting and what leads to so much Division)
David Cross Why America Sucks
Second Thought Why Americans are Treated so badly
That's Pretty Cool How Australians Elections Work (UN say fairest system but we do not just know it gives us better results and Govts that work) Make sure reds fist few Comments as he left out very important part AEC independent agency that Runs all Elections, Local, State, Federal, Counting, Does Mobile Poling in Prisons, yes Prisoners in for less than 3 years vote once leave there is no question at Polls re Criminal record, those things are for Candidate who have to be of good character, Hosp, Aged Care, every remote community, with Candidate or their Reps Traveling to Scrutineer and hold Q & A before voting time, I live in 2nd largest Electorate more than twice the size of Texas including 17small islands, I have never waited longer than 5 mins to vote, 15 mins is considered a long wait here, but that just gives you more time to have a Yarn, eat a extra Democracy Sausage or grab extra item of Cake Stalls.
Fact check on the 1975 Govt Dismissal that GG was involved in UK and Royals were not involved like some thought, that was Dirty Tricks from Murdoch and Libs with GG, was only time it happened. Also we do not Close down our Govt, Elections last 6 weeks, Govt goes into Caretaker Mode so no last minute sneaky appointments or tricks can be pulled, if Emergency arises bot Current and Opposition Leaders work together on decision, we do not go straight back into Election Mode loser Concedes then they go back sometimes work out what they did wrong, then back to work in their Electorate working for Voters,
Sometimes can be Three week before know who will Govern, if it is Hung Parliament the Party that can secure Supply and Demand Support from Minor Parties and Independents Governs.
Here Liberal & Nationals are the Conservative they are a Coalition, only way Libs can win Nationals are normally Reps from the Regional/bush Labor Party is oldest party born out of our Union Movement, Winners still use word Comrades in Acceptance and other Speeches from PM down. We work very well most the time with Greens and Most Independents, our Pollies are rarely Show Ponies they are Best Person to represent us may be a Tradies or Lawyer (not to many of those like in US).as long as Smart in some way and of good Character with passion to make things better win or lose, we expect our Pollies to get on, off Course there is the odd flare up in Parliament when have a Govt doing nothing,
Aussie are Mates no matter who they vote for, When going with AEC to cove Mobile Polling can be 1000km return trip, so to save money you travel with other Parties, you Chat to them when manning all Polling Booths, we even go for Drinks and Food together after Scrutineering, who you vote for is your business we don't wear it as Labels here, Families don't have rifts due to who they support and can talk to each other about Policies without yelling or getting upset.
Money does not buy you a seat Look up Mark Humphries Clive Palmer clip 3 mins Palmer spent more than 4 x that of Major Parties did not win a single Seat, his Leader managed to lose his seat, they even attached themselves to our Anti Covid Mob, not realising that was just a loud few and Aussies are not one issue Voters, they hired US Consultants to run Campaign was disaster.
Even if you choose to join a Party, many do not it is not a question on registration application form, you do not get stream of emails or Texts for Donations, will receive invites to Fund Raiser in form of list, will on last page have link if you want to Donate, there is no expectation on Party Members to Donate, do encourage people to help cover Booths at Elections and Scrutineering.
Noticed that when we had our Recent Election that it was not Reported on in MSM or New Media, was not like US Media was not around we had Election on Sat before the big Quad Meeting, got an unexpected result on the night, Mon 8am New PM and Foreign Minister Sworn In quick Presser 10am on plane to Japan, Biden seemed over the Moon made lots of Jokes about Albo and his (PMs) time in US and pulled Pranks on him, is no longer that Guy from Down Under, like last Idiot PM, US press were all there not one reported on New Govt,
In rest of the world most people keep up a with World News as it is reported in our Media, Australia being USAs Closest Ally, it is always disappointing the unimportant news to cover and of Couse tell us how to do things, like if a Tennis Star gets to break the Health Rules,
Important News like Election that Broke all Records, that was a Decimation of the Conservatives and Uncle Rupert and Packer who own 85% of our Media (not for much longer now), Govt has now taken Huge Left Turn, after 10 years of Conservative Rule got min wage increase in three weeks, had 3 meetings with Biden and Foreign Minister. A massive win for Climate Change, Anti Corruption, Indigenous and a lot more. Our Foreign Minister has been all over Pacific and South East Asia usually only getting there a day or two in front of China and stopping many from signing Agreement with China.
The Union activity going on here, Constant Floods this year NSW just gone under water last few days 4th time this year for some ECT.
Yes.
Yes
Yes.