The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous
19 hrs. 7 min.
Language
Russian
Author
Joseph Henrik
Author
Joseph Henrik
Narrator
Dinar Valiev
Narrator
Dinar Valiev
Description
Unlike most residents of Earth in the past and present, Western societies are characterized by a high level of individualism, an analytical mindset, and a tendency to trust strangers. Their attention focuses on personal qualities, achievements, and ambitions rather than social relationships and stable roles in society. How did such a unique psychological trait form? How did it affect the development of Protestantism, the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, and Europe’s global expansion over the last centuries? To answer these questions, Harvard University professor Joseph Henrich uses the latest research in anthropology, psychology, economics, and biology. He studies the cultural evolution of kinship ties, marriage institutions, religion, and state structures, illustrating the close interconnection between these institutions and the human psyche.
Focusing on the period immediately after the fall of Rome, Henrich shows that the core institutions of kinship and marriage in the West acquired unique features thanks to almost accidental decisions made by the early Church. These changes helped shape a distinct Western psychology that developed alongside impersonal markets, professional specialization, and free competition—forming the foundations of the modern world.
Focusing on the period immediately after the fall of Rome, Henrich shows that the core institutions of kinship and marriage in the West acquired unique features thanks to almost accidental decisions made by the early Church. These changes helped shape a distinct Western psychology that developed alongside impersonal markets, professional specialization, and free competition—forming the foundations of the modern world.
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