The WEIRDest People in the World: 8 key ideas
The core ideas of The WEIRDest People in the World, each in under a minute, written in our own words. Want the full depth? Get the book.
- IDEA 1 OF 8
Westerners are psychologically unusual
Henrich argues that people from Western, Educated, Industrialised, Rich and Democratic societies, which he calls WEIRD, are psychologically unusual.
They tend to be more individualistic, analytical and trusting of strangers than most humans in history.
- IDEA 2 OF 8
Psychology studied a narrow group
Henrich points out that much psychological research was based on WEIRD students.
This gave a misleading picture of human nature. Henrich argues that findings from such a small group cannot be assumed to hold for everyone.
- IDEA 3 OF 8
Kinship once shaped everything
In most societies, Henrich explains, strong kinship ties organised life, with loyalty to extended family and clan.
These ties shaped psychology. Henrich argues that in such societies, who you were related to decided much of your place in life.
- IDEA 4 OF 8
The church changed families
Henrich argues that the medieval Western church banned cousin marriage and promoted nuclear families.
This weakened clans and kinship networks. Henrich argues that these rules slowly changed how people related to their relatives and to strangers.
- IDEA 5 OF 8
Weaker kinship changed minds
As kinship ties weakened, people became more individualistic and joined voluntary groups like guilds and towns.
Psychology shifted. Henrich argues that people began to rely on shared membership and rules rather than only on family ties.
- IDEA 6 OF 8
Reading changed brains
Henrich describes how Protestant emphasis on reading the Bible spread literacy.
Literacy changed how brains process information. Henrich argues that learning to read gave people new habits of thought that reached beyond religion.
- IDEA 7 OF 8
Trust in strangers grew
WEIRD societies developed impersonal trust and rules that apply to everyone.
This supported markets and institutions. Henrich argues that people could cooperate with others they had never met because shared rules gave them confidence.
- IDEA 8 OF 8
Psychology shapes history
Henrich argues that differences in psychology help explain why some societies developed in certain ways.
Culture and mind evolve together. Henrich argues that history and the way minds work cannot be understood completely apart from each other.
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