E-Book Overview
There are three major myths of human nature: humans are divided into biological races; humans are naturally aggressive; men and women are truly different in behavior, desires, and wiring. In an engaging and wide-ranging narrative Agustín Fuentes counters these pervasive and pernicious myths about human behavior. Tackling misconceptions about what race, aggression, and sex really mean for humans, Fuentes incorporates an accessible understanding of culture, genetics, and evolution requiring us to dispose of notions of nature or nurture.” Presenting scientific evidence from diverse fields, including anthropology, biology, and psychology, Fuentes devises a myth-busting toolkit to dismantle persistent fallacies about the validity of biological races, the innateness of aggression and violence, and the nature of monogamy and differences between the sexes. A final chapter plus an appendix provide a set of take-home points on how readers can myth-bust on their own. Accessible, compelling, and original, this book is a rich and nuanced account of how nature, culture, experience, and choice interact to influence human behavior.
E-Book Content
Race, Monogamy, and Other Lies They Told You
The publisher gratefully acknowledges the generous support of the General Endowment Fund of the University of California Press Foundation.
Race, Monogamy, and Other Lies They Told You Busting Myths about Human Nature
Agustín Fuentes
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS Berkeley
•
Los Angeles
•
London
University of California Press, one of the most distinguished university presses in the United States, enriches lives around the world by advancing scholarship in the humanities, social sciences, and natural sciences. Its activities are supported by the UC Press Foundation and by philanthropic contributions from individuals and institutions. For more information, visit www.ucpress.edu. University of California Press Berkeley and Los Angeles, California University of California Press, Ltd. London, England © 2012 by The Regents of the University of California Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Fuentes, Agustín. Race, monogamy, and other lies they told you : Busting myths about human nature / Agustín Fuentes. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. isbn 978-0-520-26971-2 (cloth : alk. paper) 1. Behavioral evolution. 2. Human behavior. 3. Human evolution. 4. Social evolution. 5. Physical anthropology. I. Title. BF 698.95. F85 2012 155.7—dc23 2011049949 Manufactured in the United States of America 21 10
20 19 18 17 16 15 14 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
13
12
In keeping with a commitment to support environmentally responsible and sustainable printing practices, UC Press has printed this book on Rolland Enviro100, a 100% post-consumer fiber paper that is FSC certified, deinked, processed chlorine-free, and manufactured with renewable biogas energy. It is acid-free and EcoLogo certified.
Contents
List of Illustrations Preface Acknowledgments
vii ix xv
PART 1. MYTH-BUSTING TOOL KIT 1.
Myths about Human Nature Are Powerful—and Misleading
2.
Culture—Problems with What We Believe about Being Human
27
3.
Evolution Is Important—but May Not Be What We Think
42
3
PART 2. BUSTING THREE MYTHS ABOUT BEING HUMAN
Prelude: Human ≠ Nature + Nurture
65
4.
The Myth of Race
5.
Myths about Aggression
114
6.
Myths about Sex
156
7.
Beyond the Myths: Now What?
207
Appendix: Getting the Information Yourself Notes Bibliography Index
70
217 221 251 265
Illustrations
1. Types