Big Ideas

Nearly every group has its extreme outliers. Where does fundamentalism come from? How does the most powerful organ in the known universe, the human brain, make emotionally driven decisions that ignore reason and fact? In this program, scientists look for answers to why our species may have evolved to accommodate the set of behaviors we associate with zealotry. This program is part of the Big Ideas Series, made possible with support from the John Templeton Foundation.Learn More

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TOPICS: Art & Science, Biology & Origins of Life, Earth & Environment, Mind & Brain, Physics & Math, Science in Society, Science Unplugged, Space & The Cosmos, Technology & Engineering, Your Daily Equation, Youth & Education

TAGS: Amygdala, anthropology, Big Ideas Series, Emotion, extreme beliefs, extremism, group identity, homo economicus, Human evolution, Human Origins, intergroup competition, multiculturalism, neuroscience, origins of hate, political divide, psychology, rehumanize people, religion, Research, shared identity, social media, Social psychology, society, tribalism, violence, Amygdala, anthropology, Big Ideas Series, Emotion, extreme beliefs, extremism, group identity, homo economicus, Human evolution, Human Origins, intergroup competition, multiculturalism, neuroscience, origins of hate, political divide, psychology, rehumanize people, religion, Research, shared identity, social media, Social psychology, society, tribalism, violence

PLAYLISTS: Big Ideas

Video Duration: 01:17:53

Original Program Date: Sunday, June 3, 2018

Moderator: Maria Konnikova

Participants: Jonathan Haidt, Jay Van Bavel, Katherine Porterfield

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