The Rational Animal: How Evolution Made Us Smarter Than We Think

Home > Other > The Rational Animal: How Evolution Made Us Smarter Than We Think > Page 31
The Rational Animal: How Evolution Made Us Smarter Than We Think Page 31

by Kenrick, Douglas T.

Mergers and acquisitions, 127

  Mezrich, Ben, 167

  Microeconomics, 120

  Microsoft, 127

  Miller, Geoffrey, 14, 39, 154

  Miller, Saul, 19

  Millionaire Next Door, The (Stanley and Danko), 118

  Minimum parental investment, 163, 165, 173

  Misses, 80, 88

  Modern work, skills of, 101

  Modern world, decision making blinded by, 114–115

  Modern world, decision making blinded by the, 210

  Money mistakes. See Financial mistakes

  Moore, Demi, 169

  Morons, people as, view focusing on. See Behavioral economist perspective

  Morrison, Jim, 138

  Mortality levels/rates

  from accidents/violence, 123, 173

  from drug adverse reactions, 200–201

  from medical errors, 97, 98

  of rock stars, 138

  and women’s age of first birth, 134

  Mortensen, Chad, 28

  Mossi people, 61

  Mr. T, 198

  Mswati III, 169

  Multiple personalities, having, 24–27

  See also Subselves

  Murders. See Homicides

  Murphy, Dwayne, 126

  Mutualism, symbolic, 187, 189, 190, 194, 203

  Mwanawasa, Levy, 75–76, 208

  Mystery, 215–216

  National Basketball Association, 118

  National Football League, 118

  Native Americans, 85

  Natural frequencies, presenting statistical information in terms of, 103–105

  Navarrete, Carlos, 36

  Needs

  fundamental, fulfilling our, spending on, 189–190

  hierarchy of, 42, 43, 44

  See also Subselves

  Negotiation

  in conflict, different approaches to, 51–53, 59

  testosterone levels and, 127

  Neil, Vince, 138

  Nesse, Randy, 80–81

  Neuberg, Steve, 46

  Nisbett, Richard, 147

  Nixon, Richard, 65

  Nutrition for Life, 203

  Offense and defense, importance of both, 86

  On the Origin of Species (Darwin), 8

  Onassis, Aristotle, 143–144, 155

  Onassis, Jackie (Kennedy), 155

  One-night stands, 89, 157, 164–165, 167, 177

  Oppenheimer, Ernest, 195, 196

  Opportunities, so-called, taking a closer look at, 204

  Optimism, 92

  Otero, Ray, 129–130, 131, 140, 141

  Overconfidence bias, 77, 91–93, 94, 123

  Ovulatory cycle, influence of the, 13–16, 19, 89–90, 93, 182

  Page, Larry, 127

  Paradox, large numbers, 109–111, 113

  Parasitism

  described, 187–188

  examples of, 185–186, 188, 194–203

  lesson about, 210

  protection from, 203–205, 213

  Parental investment, minimum, 163, 165, 173

  Parenting effort, 121, 122, 124–125

  Parents, inclusive fitness and, 57

  Paternal uncertainty, 178

  Pathogen detector system, 83, 93

  See also Disease-avoidance subself

  Personalities, having multiple, 24–27

  See also Subselves

  Persuasion, primed for, 27–30

  Pharmaceutical industry, 199–201

  Pitt, Brad, 89

  Playboys, 89, 90, 156–157

  Predators, protection from. See Self-protection subself

  Predictable environments, influence of, on life history strategy, 136, 139

  Predicting behavior, 16, 46, 48

  Preferences

  changing, 27–29, 34, 39–40, 46, 47–48

  and inclusive fitness, 56–58

  mate, 167–169, 170–171, 173

  stable, 26, 46, 48

  Prescription drug industry, 199–201

  Prisoner’s dilemma, 53–55, 56, 58, 59, 62, 67, 69

  Probability format, problem with, 97–98, 101–102, 103–105

  See also Math problems

  Promiscuity, 24, 156, 180

  Proximate reasons

  awareness of, 158–159

  described, 11

  focus on, 12

  incomplete understanding of behavior provided by, 15–16

  links between ultimate reasons and, being unaware of, 12–13, 150–151, 158–159

  for men’s preference for young women, 168

  and the ovulatory cycle, 14, 15

  and ultimate reasons, as complementary, 15

  Puberty, earlier onset of, 134

  Pyramid schemes, 188, 203

  Race relations, 72

  Rags-to-riches-to-bankruptcy stories, 117–118, 119, 136, 138

  See also Risk taking

  Randazzo, Richie, 129, 130

  Randeria, Shalini, 171–172

  Rape, 17, 134, 138

  Rational animals, people as, evolutionary view of. See Evolutionary psychologist perspective

  Rational economist perspective

  behavioral economists versus, 6, 7

  as both right and wrong, 9

  contributions of, and suggestions to improve upon, 213–214

  examples of, 1–2, 3, 4

  lesson about, 210–211

  of man as rational, described, 3–4

  See also specific ideas/concepts of rational economists

  Reproductive costs, 163, 165

  Reproductive effort, 120, 121

  See also Mating effort; Parenting effort

  Reproductive success, defined, 121

  See also Mating opportunities/success

  Resource allocation. See Life history theory

  Resources

  limited, dilemma over, 119

  uncertainty over, 135, 179

  willingness to provide, demonstrating, 163, 172

  Restricted strategists, 156, 157

  Risk aversion

  as a calculated bias, 45, 82

  money mistakes and, 81–82

  Risk taking

  described, 16–20

  inclusive fitness and, 56

  mate-acquisition game and, 173, 174, 175

  mating effort and, 123, 125–127, 128, 173

  types of, as financial strategies, 130–131

  See also Fast strategy

  Roberts, Julia, 147

  Rock, Chris, 200

  Rock stars, early death of, 138

  Role-playing, presumption in, 48–49

  Romantic subself. See Mate-acquisition subself

  Ronay, Richard, 17

  Roney, Jim, 154

  Rowling, J. K., 214, 215

  Saad, Gad, 157

  Safe environments, influence of, on life history strategy, 136, 139

  Sanabria, Federico, 59

  Santos, Laurie, 9

  Sapolsky, Robert, 37–38

  Scarcity ploy, 196, 197, 203

  Schaller, Mark, 35, 83, 84

  Schmitt, David, 164

  Science, appeal of, 215–216

  Scientific management, principle of, 69

  Secord, Paul, 179–180

  Segal, Nancy, 56, 57–58

  Self-actualization, 44

  Self-interest

  described, 3–4

  lesson about, 210–211

  putting aside, 73

  See also Subselves

  Self-protection subself

  advance warning system of, 78, 93

  advertising preferences of, 28–29, 30

  described, 33–34, 212

  fulfilling the needs of, spending on, 189

  hierarchy of needs and, 43

  and loss aversion, 47

  mating effort and, 123

  parasites of, 199

  parenting effort and, 125

  and rules of the game, 66–68

  somatic effort and, 122

  and tension between subselv
es, 49

  See also specific aspects related to the self-protection subself

  September 11, 2001, 140

  Sex detector systems, 86–90, 93

  Sex differences. See Men; Women Sex ratios, 179–182, 183

  Sexton, Alison, 149

  Sexton, Steve, 149

  Sexual economics

  conspicuous displays and, 153

  mate preference and, 170

  of reproduction, 163–164, 165

  See also Mate-acquisition subself; Mate-retention subself; Men; Women

  Sexual mistakes, avoiding, 166

  Sexual revolution, 180

  Sharif, Ismael Ibn, 169

  Sherman, William Tecumseh, 64

  Shiwiar tribe, 95–96, 100, 104, 106, 108–109, 110–111

  Siblings

  and inclusive fitness, 56–57, 57–58, 59–60

  twin, 56, 57–58, 62

  Simpson, Jeff, 135, 156

  Singh, Bhupinder, 64, 65

  Singh, Rajinder, 169

  Single parents, 117, 133, 136

  Singles ads, 173

  Sizemore, Chris, 25

  Slow strategy

  attitude of people following the, toward fast strategists, example of, 140

  and conspicuous consumption, 157

  described, 119, 121

  environmental factors leading to, 136–137, 138, 139

  fast strategy versus, 128–129

  as a financial investment strategy, 131

  genetic factor in, 133

  low variance of, 137

  mate-acquisition subself and, 156, 157

  restricted, 156, 157

  and sexual supply and demand, 181

  types of people following, 132–133

  Smith, William Kennedy, 17

  Smoke detector dilemma, 79–80

  Smoke detector principle

  described, 80–81, 87

  flip side of the, 88

  money mistakes and the, 81–82

  “Sociology of Bride Price and Dowry” (Randeria and Visaria), 171–172

  Sociopathy, indicator of, 68

  Somatic effort, 120, 121, 122, 132

  Southwest Airlines, 71–72, 213

  Sperry, Roger W., 25

  Spielberg, Steven, 186

  Spitzer, Eliot, 161, 167, 209

  Split-brain patients, 25

  Sports Illustrated (magazine), 118

  Stable preferences, 26, 46, 48

  Statistical computations. See Math problems

  Status subself

  conspicuous consumption and, 143–144, 148–150, 151

  described, 37–39, 212

  fulfilling the needs of, spending on, 189

  going green and, 148, 149, 150, 151

  hierarchy of needs and, 43

  mating effort and, 122, 123, 124

  overconfidence bias and, 91–93

  parasites of, 198

  and rules of the game, 64–66

  selling to, marketing strategy in, 191, 192

  See also specific aspects related to the status subself

  Stepparents, inclusive fitness and, 57

  Stress response, 138–140

  Subselves

  compatibility between, 49

  different responses from, 26–27, 82–83

  game theory and rules for different, 60–67, 73

  knowing your evolutionary needs and, to avoid overspending, 205

  lesson about, 211–212

  making complex problems relevant to our, 105–106, 108, 109

  money and, 44–45

  multiple, existence of, 26

  number of, and how they work, 30–32

  others exploiting our, 186–187

  and persuasion, 27–30

  remembering, way of, 42–44

  versus roles, 48–49

  selling to, marketing strategies in, 190–194

  shut out of the decision-making process, 204

  tension between, 49

  types of, described, 32–42

  voluntarily waking up your own, 212–213

  See also Affiliation subself; Disease-avoidance subself; Kin-care subself; Mate-acquisition subself; Mate-retention subself; Self-protection subself; Status subself

  Sugiyama, Larry, 95–96, 108, 109

  Sundie, Jill, 28, 59, 154, 156–157

  Supply and demand, sexual, 179–182

  Swanson, Gloria, 1, 4, 17

  Symbiotic mutualism, 187, 189, 190, 194, 203

  Talking versus writing, 99–101

  Taylor, Frederick Winslow, 69

  Teenagers/young adults

  causes of death among, 123, 173

  equality matching and, 62

  fast versus slow strategies and, 128–129

  mating effort and, 122–123, 125–128, 173

  rating, as competent, 128

  status subself and, 38

  Testosterone, 18, 19, 123, 125, 126, 127, 183

  Theory of the Leisure Class, The (Veblen), 143

  Theresa, Mother, 38

  Three Faces of Eve, The (movie), 24–25

  Tiffany & Co., 199

  Time (magazine), 192

  Tipping

  exploiting, 188

  sex differences in, 173, 174

  Too Many Women? (Guttentag and Secord), 179–180

  Topline Strategy Group, 147

  Toyota Prius, reason for buying, uncovering, 147–149, 150–151

  Trade-offs, making, 19, 119–120, 120–121

  Trivers, Robert, 60

  Trivial altercations, 123–124

  Trudeau, Kevin, 201–203, 204

  Trump, Donald, 168

  Trust, 69, 186, 194, 195

  Trust game, 70–71

  Truth-seeking, accuracy and, 77–78

  Tversky, Amos, 5, 97, 111, 112, 113

  Twins, 56, 57–58, 62

  Tybur, Josh, 14, 83, 148, 154, 157

  Tyson, Mike, 118, 135–136, 138

  Ultimate reasons

  as commonly overlooked, 12, 159

  described, 11–12

  exploring, for conspicuous consumption, 151–157, 158

  links between proximate reasons and, being unaware of, 12–13, 150–151, 158–159

  and the ovulatory cycle, 14, 15

  and proximate reasons, as complementary, 15

  valuable insight provided by, 16, 20

  See also Evolutionary challenges, the need to solve

  Ultimatum game, 55, 66

  Unpredictable environments, influence of, on life history strategy, 134–136, 137, 139–140, 141

  Unrestricted strategists, 156, 157, 166

  US presidents, expectations of, 64, 65–66

  Utility, 12, 20, 146, 191

  Van den Bergh, Bram, 148

  Veblen, Thorstein, 143, 145, 151

  Vigilant subself. See Self-protection subself

  Violence, 17, 33, 57, 123–124, 134, 135, 138, 173, 179, 180

  Virginity, 163

  Visaria, Leela, 171–172

  Vohs, Kathleen, 157, 163–164

  von Hippel, William, 17

  Vongas, John, 157

  Wall Street game. See Game theory

  Wall Street model. See Market economics

  Wall Street (movie), 3

  Wall Street traders, 1, 16, 45, 56, 67, 126

  Walmart, 198

  Walt Disney Company, 51–52, 72–73

  Wang, X. T., 113, 114

  Wason task, 106–107, 108–109

  Wayne, Ronald “Ron,” 93, 127

  Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite (Kurzban), 25

  Why Smart People Make Big Money Mistakes (Belsky and Gilovich), 81

  Wiesel, Elie, 186

  Wilson, Margo, 123, 124

  Wilson, Tim, 147

  Winehouse, Amy, 138

  Women

  bride price paid for, 162–163, 171, 182

  and conspicuous consumption, 154–155, 159, 182

  dowry of, 162–163, 171–172

  as esc
orts, men paying for, 161–162, 163, 167

  and first professions of love, 165–167

  as first-time mothers, age of, 124, 132, 134

  generous tipping and, 173, 174

  jealousy and, 178, 179

  mate-acquisition game for, 173, 174–176

  mate-retention game for, 176–177

  mating effort and, 122, 123, 132

  and men’s risk taking, 17, 19–20

  and onset of menstruation, age of, 134, 135

  ovulatory cycle of, subconscious influence of, 13–16, 19, 89–90, 93, 182

  parenting stage and, 124, 125

  preference of, for men with financial prospects, 170–171, 173

  pregnant, and the disease-avoidance subself, 36

  ratio of men to, and sexual supply and demand, 179–182

  risk taking and, 175

  sex detectors of, and the mate-acquisition subself, 88–90, 93

  sexual economics and, 153, 163, 164

  standards of, for partners, 164–165, 177

  testosterone levels of, 123, 125

  and their response to insults, 39

  young and beautiful, men’s preference for, 167–169, 170, 171, 173

  World According to Garp, The (Irving), 6

  World Health Organization, 35, 86

  World Series of Poker, 125–126

  Wozniak, Steve, 61, 62, 63–64, 91, 93, 127

  Writing, talking versus, 99–101

  Young adults. See Teenagers/young adults

  Young beautiful women, men’s preference for, 167–169, 170, 171, 173

  Zambian aid fiasco, 75–76, 85–86

  Zepter Luxury International, 199

  Zuckerberg, Mark, 127

  Zuckerman, Mort, 186

 

 

 


‹ Prev