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Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite: Evolution and the Modular Mind Paperback – May 27, 2012

by Robert O. Kurzban (Author)

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The evolutionary psychology behind human inconsistency

We're all hypocrites. Why? Hypocrisy is the natural state of the human mind.

Robert Kurzban shows us that the key to understanding our behavioral inconsistencies lies in understanding the mind's design. The human mind consists of many specialized units designed by the process of evolution by natural selection. While these modules sometimes work together seamlessly, they don't always, resulting in impossibly contradictory beliefs, vacillations between patience and impulsiveness, violations of our supposed moral principles, and overinflated views of ourselves.

This modular, evolutionary psychological view of the mind undermines deeply held intuitions about ourselves, as well as a range of scientific theories that require a "self" with consistent beliefs and preferences. Modularity suggests that there is no "I." Instead, each of us is a contentious "we"--a collection of discrete but interacting systems whose constant conflicts shape our interactions with one another and our experience of the world.

In clear language, full of wit and rich in examples, Kurzban explains the roots and implications of our inconsistent minds, and why it is perfectly natural to believe that everyone else is a hypocrite.

Editorial Reviews

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"Using humour and anecdotes, [Kurzban] reveals how conflict between the modules of the mind leads to contradictory beliefs, vacillating behaviours, broken moral boundaries and inflated egos. He argues that we should think of ourselves not as 'I' but as 'we'―a collection of interacting systems that are in constant conflict." ― Nature

"Robert Kurzban believes that we are all hypocrites. But not to worry, he explains, hypocrisy is the natural state of the human mind. In his book Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite: Evolution and the Modular Mind, Kurzban asserts that the human mind consists of many specialized units, which do not always work together seamlessly. When this harmony breaks down, people often develop contradictory beliefs."---Victoria Stern, Scientific American Mind

"[Kurzban] argues that . . . internal conflicts are not limited to extreme cases; they occur in everyone's brains, leading to illogical beliefs and contradictory behaviors. That's not necessarily a bad thing, according to Kurzban. In fact, being selectively irrational may give us an evolutionary advantage."---Kacie Glenn, Chronicle of Higher Education

"Kurzban has used his view of evolutionary psychology to pursue the concept of 'self' at the heart of both the discipline of psychology and the everyday understanding of human behavior―which surely is of interest to everyone. . . . The book itself is fresh. Kurzban's style is to take traditional questions and apparently reasonable positions and then demonstrate that reasonableness is actually only so under a set of assumptions―and that if they do not conform to the modularity hypothesis then we ought to rethink."---Tom Dickins, Times Higher Education

"We're all inconsistent and self-deceiving, says evolutionary psychologist Robert Kurzban. Our modular minds didn't evolve for consistency, but for patchwork multitasking. . . . As Kurzban says, understanding how and why we can be so 'ignorant, wrong, irrational, and hypocritical' may help us work towards a fairer society."---Susan Blackmore, BBC Focus

"Bolstered by recent studies and research, Kurzban makes a convincing and coherent . . . case for the modular mind, greatly helped by humorous footnotes and examples. . . . Taking on lofty topics, including truth and belief, Kurzban makes a successful case for changing―and remapping―the modern mind." ― Publishers Weekly

"Kurzban is a luminary in the growing discipline of evolutionary psychology. . . . Provocative. . . . Kurzban devotes much space to explicating and demonstrating ways in which his theory plays out in our everyday lives." ― Library Journal

"With wit, wisdom, and occasional hilarity, Robert Kurzban offers explanations for why we do the things we do, such as morally condemning the sale of human organs and locking the refrigerator at night to keep from snacking. . . . Kurzban touches on some complex topics in a manner that's both smart and accessible. He incorporates a plethora of psychological studies to support his theories but the narrative is never dry. . . . By challenging common assumptions about habits, morality, and preferences, Kurzban keeps readers both entertained and enlightened." ― Foreword Reviews

"Highly recommended."---Jessica Palmer, Bioephemera blog

"I'm sure that Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite will provoke a lot of controversy, and I'm certain that Kurzban's theses will require further refinement. But what a fascinating read!"---Brenda Jubin, Reading the Markets blog

"There is much that is valuable in Kurzban's book."---Peter Carruthers, Trends in Cognitive Sciences

"Kurzban brilliantly (and often hilariously) breaks down the system of functional modules, explaining their existence through evolution, and their hypocrisy through a lack of communication. Why Everyone (Else) is a Hypocrite delves into a part of psychology that has famously been ignored by many prominent members in the field."---Haley M. Dillon and Rachael A. Carmen, Journal of Social, Evolutionary, and Cultural Psychology

Review

"Robert Kurzban is one of the best evolutionary psychologists of his generation: he is distinctive not only for his own successful research and sophisticated understanding of psychology, but also because of his wit―Kurzban is genuinely clever, sly, succinct, and sometimes hilarious."―Steven Pinker, Harvard University

"In this amazing book, Robert Kurzban carries out a brilliantly thought-provoking conversation with himself that made me think hard―and laugh out loud. Using clever examples and a revolutionary scientific approach, he shows that contradiction is truly a fundamental human experience. No wonder, then, that I wanted to share this book with my friends―but I also wanted to keep it for myself! If you don't read this book, you'll be left wondering what everyone (else) is talking about."―James H. Fowler, coauthor of Connected: The Surprising Power of Our Social Networks and How They Shape Our Lives

"Here is a fun counterpoint to the explosion of examples showing that humans do not act in accordance with the predictions of standard rational models. But Kurzban is no defender of the standard models. Rather he seeks an understanding of why our actions may appear contradictory in particular contexts, but serve us well in others, and why that helps to improve our fitness for decision, if not always for a life of liberty."―Vernon L. Smith, Nobel Laureate in Economics

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Princeton University Press
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 27, 2012
Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprint
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0691154392
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0691154398
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.75 x 9.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #539,892 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #111 in Evolutionary Psychology (Books)
- #1,044 in Cognitive Psychology (Books)
- #1,732 in Medical General Psychology

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Robert Kurzban

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Robert Kurzban is a writer and author who received his PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara and completed a Masters of Public Administration at the Fels Institute of Government. He now works as the Director of Development for the Garces Foundation and runs a small freelancing company, RE:Writers.

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Customers find the book thought-provoking, carefully articulating the tenets of Evolutionary Psychology and providing perfect insight into human nature. They also appreciate its humor, describing it as a funny read.

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32 customers mention "Thought provoking"28 positive4 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, carefully articulating the tenets of Evolutionary Psychology and providing perfect insight into human nature.

"...Also, the new information dovetailed nicely with what I read in Self Comes to Mind: Constructing the Conscious Brain by Antonio..." Read more

"...He’s a terrific writer, funny, snarky (don’t miss the footnotes), self-deprecating and clearly an expert in the field, which makes this a great and..." Read more

"...Kurzban's book is easily one of the most influential I have read in a long time. A very enjoyable read." Read more

"...reminds me a famous quote from Isaac Asimov: "The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka' but..." Read more

11 customers mention "Humor"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous, with one describing it as snarky.

"...Kurzban's style is wry, witty, and always entertaining. I was laughing throughout. I loved the method, the material, and the message...." Read more

"...He’s a terrific writer, funny, snarky (don’t miss the footnotes), self-deprecating and clearly an expert in the field, which makes this a great and..." Read more

"...related to human cognition. This is a funny book, funny in the Asimov's sense, of course, and yet it does not refrain from strongly arguing for..." Read more

"...and scientific underpinning is better...and partly because it's more fun to read...." Read more

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Warren G
A truly foundational book for anyone serious about Psychology.
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2011
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

"I" almost didn't purchase this book - what a serious mistake that would have been! Having read The Ego Tunnel: The Science of the Mind and the Myth of the Self by Philosopher Thomas Metzinger, I felt I was thoroughly acquainted with the notion that there is no self. Also, I have read: Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Behavioral Economist Dan Ariely, The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom by Psychologist Jonathan Haidt, and How the Mind Works by Psychologist Steven Pinker (all three cited by Kurzban). Now, I don't mean to name drop, I simply say that to say this: Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite is better. Yes, better.

Kurzban states in the Prologue, "This book is...an attempt to explain why we act the way we act, and, perhaps partly in our defense, to show that if we are wrong a lot, well, being right isn't everything. My argument is going to be that much, or at least some, of what makes us ignorant, mind-numbingly stupid - and hypocritical - is that we evolved to play many different kinds of strategic games with others, and our brains are built to exploit the fact that being knowledgeable, right, or morally consistent is not always to our advantage. Because humans are such social creatures, while being right is still really important, it's very far from everything. In fact, being ignorant, wrong, irrational, and hypocritical can make you much better off than being knowledgeable, correct, reasonable, and consistent."

The amount of research that Dr. Kurzban utilizes in fulfilling this aim is staggering. There are many classic examples (i.e. Muller-Lyer Illusion, "Spandrels," "Framing Effects") but, also plenty that were new on me. Also, and more importantly, I loved the presentation. Kurzban's style is wry, witty, and always entertaining. I was laughing throughout. I loved the method, the material, and the message. As a long-time fan of evolutionary psychology, this certainly is a welcome addition; Dr. Kurzban is definitely one of my new favorite authors. Also, the new information dovetailed nicely with what I read in Self Comes to Mind: Constructing the Conscious Brain by Antonio Damasio, The Tell-Tale Brain: A Neuroscientist's Quest for What Makes Us Human by V.S. Ramachandran, and Your Brain Is (Almost) Perfect: How We Make Decisions by Read Montague; I just might have to re-read some of my favorites with this new modularity view in mind. In sum, this is a great book and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in morality, Philosophy of Mind, psychology, economics, social policy...well, everyone really. Here is one more great quote, "Modularity explains why everyone is a hypocrite. Moral(istic) modules constrain others' behavior. The mob's moral sticks can be used to prevent an arbitrarily wide set of acts. At the same time, other modules advance our own fitness interests, often by doing the very same acts our moral modules condemn. In this sense, the explanation for hypocrisy lies in the rather quotidian notion of competition. Organisms are designed to advance their own fitness interests, which entails harming others and helping oneself and one's allies. Hypocrisy is, in its most abstract sense, no different from other kinds of competition."

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Steve Brooks
Unifies many behavior theories, much work to be done
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2012
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
The title - Why Everyone (else) is a Hypocrite - is a little misleading. What Kurzban is trying to do is unify a lot of behavioral theories with the modular concept of the mind.

Why Everyone (else) is a Hypocrite challenges assumptions about "self" and "consciousness." The modular view of the brain is introduced, with interesting analogies to computer science, and then using the modular view reviews commonly held assumptions about how the brain functions. Rather than one person simultaneously holding two contradictory believes, dualism is explain by the module view as two different modules reaching contradictory conclusions.

The modular view of the brain is simple to get, just extend the concept of brain hemispheres. It is unknown how many modules there are or which modules are connected. Modules are like apps on a phone; they contain local information and only pass certain information to other modules (some don't communicate).

Only certain modules communicate with the "consciousness" module. Rather than think of your consciousness as the part that controls you, consider your consciousness the spokesman.

So much of human life is determined by social beliefs rather than absolute fact that the human mind evolved to be "strategically wrong." The spokesperson is feed information that spins the story in the best possible light for winning mates and friends.

Sometimes it is better not to know, cases where modules not sharing information is a strategic advantage. Often it is advantageous for the consciousness (the spokesman) to be positively biased while internal modules rely on more accurate information.

There is a social price to pay for knowingly and outwardly being self-interested. But if you don't know how your behavior impacts others, you can't be accused of being self-interested.

Sometimes operating on biases information is an advantage. We tend to attribute success to our abilities and failure to chance. This self bias is detrimental in objective situations, but in subjective situations (we evolved in a subjective world) being convinced of your own abilities is beneficial. Your overconfidence can influence how others calculate the odds of your future success and longevity (the key to being a good friend or mate).

We don't have set preferences, decisions are calculated on the fly. Patient modules and impatient models. Based on context (historical - think pavolog's dog, environmental, and internal). Willpower is really just an effortmeter, it tries to determine if it is worth the effort to continue. Reset effortmeter by reward - food, praise.

Kurzban addresses morality last - here are the most unanswered questions and controversy. First Kurzban illustrates who contradictory our morals around sex and drugs are. We can't really explain why our morals, our explanations are just rationalization. What we really want to do is control other people. Different modules explain why we condemn behaviors in others, but do them ourselves (there is nothing in our brains that forces us to adopt one universal moral code). The universal disdain for hypocrisy is a evolutionary code of law - its purpose is to make others follow the rules they set for others.

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Tim Cooper
Simply excellent
Reviewed in Germany on January 12, 2013
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

Describes a theory which, when explained, makes so many other things fall into place. The hallmark of a scientific step forward understandable to laymen and professionals alike. Read this book. It will change your whole weltanschauung

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Kezia Kroeker
Thoroughly Enjoyed.
Reviewed in Canada on June 4, 2019
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Great read. Packed with interesting stuff!

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benimacleta
Recomendable
Reviewed in Spain on November 8, 2016
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Bueno, no puedo decir mucho porque es para un trabajo de la facultad de mi hija. supongo que muy bien.

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Natalia G.
Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 14, 2018
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
Good Book.

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Amazon Customer
The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, but the parts still have a role to play. Good read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2017
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
I found this book enjoyable to read, full of wit and useful information. It builds an interesting picture of the modularity of mind. Demonstrating how the mind is often divided with conflicting interest (not dual), which is backed up by various interesting examples, from an evolutionary perspective.
The title of this book is likeable to analogy we can all relate to.. I can hold my hands up and say I have (and will be again) been hypocritical and contridictory, on many occasions, but I've not always been able to put my finger on why - until I read this book.
However, I may not be the most enlightened reader (work in progress, I'm reading on it), but something tells me there's a lot of people trying to convince the readers of books like this one, that the mind (even in the modular view) is a lot simpler than it really is. In fairness to the author of this book, he's done a great job at providing frame work to help simplify the complexity of the mind, so as to make it more understandable. Sorry, I may have contradicted myself slightly here...

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Why Everyone (Else) Is a Hypocrite: Evolution and the Modular Mind Paperback – May 27, 2012

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5.0 out of 5 stars A truly foundational book for anyone serious about Psychology.

4.0 out of 5 stars Unifies many behavior theories, much work to be done

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply excellent

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly Enjoyed.

5.0 out of 5 stars Recomendable

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars

4.0 out of 5 stars The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, but the parts still have a role to play. Good read.

A truly foundational book for anyone serious about Psychology.

Unifies many behavior theories, much work to be done

Simply excellent

Thoroughly Enjoyed.

Recomendable

Five Stars

The whole is greater than the sum of its parts, but the parts still have a role to play. Good read.