The WEIRDest People in the World

Try completing this sentence: I am ___.

If you are WEIRD, you probably answered with words like “curious” or “passionate”, “a scientist,” “a surgeon” etc ...

You were probably less inclined to respond with things like “Josh’s dad” or “Maya’s mom,” even though those are equally true.

This focus on personal attributes over personal relationships & inherited social roles is a distinctive feature of WEIRD psychology, but one that sets them apart from the rest of the world. Because most people think of themselves in terms of their social context rather than focusing solely on individual traits.

WEIRD people are the exception. Key areas of differences:

1. Collectivism vs. Individualism: WEIRD societies emphasize individual goals & achievements, whereas the rest prioritize group identity: family, tribe.
2. High vs. Low Trust in Strangers: WEIRD societies show higher levels of trust in strangers compared to the global average.
3. Formal Rules vs. Informal Norms: WEIRD societies often rely on laws to govern behavior. In contrast to traditions.
4. Openness to Novelty vs. Traditionalism: WEIRD populations tend to be more open to new ideas over preserving traditions.

It took hundreds of years for the West to develop its distinct culture.

1. The Rise of Monogamous Nuclear Families: The Catholic Church's promotion of independent families weakened kinship networks and fostered individualism.
2. Impersonal Markets and Urbanization: The growth of market economies and urban centers with diverse populations encouraged cooperation and exchange.
3. Rise of Voluntary Associations: Guilds, universities, and other self-governing groups created opportunities for people with shared interests to collaborate.

Weird people are psychologically peculiar. Highly individualistic, self-obsessed, control-oriented, nonconformist, and analytical. They focus on themselves - over their social roles.

1. They aim to be “themselves” across contexts and see inconsistencies in others as hypocrisy.
2. They are less willing to conform to others when this conflicts with their own beliefs.
3. They see themselves as unique beings, not as nodes in a social network.
4. When reasoning, they tend to look for universal categories and rules with which to organize the world.
5. Through self-regulation, they can defer gratification 

WEIRD people are racked by guilt as they fail to live up to their culturally inspired, self-imposed, standards.

🤔 In most non-WEIRD societies, shame—not guilt—dominates people’s lives.

➡️ People experience shame when they, their relatives, or even their friends fail to live up to the standards imposed on them by their communities.

• Non-WEIRD populations “lose face” when their daughter loves someone outside the social network.
• WEIRD people might feel guilty for taking a nap instead of hitting the gym.

💡 Guilt is based on our own standards whereas shame stems from societal standards.

Innovation is driven by the recombination of ideas, insights, and technologies, along with a healthy dose of serendipity and unintended consequences. As a result, any institutions, norms, beliefs, or psychological inclinations that increase the flow of ideas among diverse minds or open up more opportunities for fortune to show us the way will energize innovation.

It is a form of cumulative cultural evolution, which is fundamentally a social and cultural process that turns societies into collective brains.