The Evolutionary Basis of Human Prejudice (Politics And Prose)

Title: The Evolutionary Basis of Human Prejudice
Description: My Ideas On The Subject

IceMetalPunk - January 19, 2007 01:46 AM (GMT)

OK, if (for whatever reason) the subject of evolution offends you, please don't read this. It deals heavily with my own belief in those theories, and proposes evolutionary bases (plural of "basis") for human behavior.

I'm not sure if this should be here or in Social Sciences, but I believe it's more philosophy, so here goes:

QUOTE (IceMetalPunk's Evolved Prejudice Theory)

Is it possible that human prejudice is a genetically evolved behavior? Here are a few points to think about:

1) Biochemicals (i.e. adrenaline, cortisol, etc.) create and control fear/stress sensations in humans.

2) Secretion of said chemicals is mostly controlled genetically.

3) Now we go into the hypothetical:

Say that somewhere along the line in human evolution, one or more of the genes controlling production of different stress/fear controlling hormones became mutated. For example: it was duplicated, creating an excess of the chemicals causing the fear/stress; nucleotides were substituted creating hyperactive fear/stress chemicals (or hypoactive stress reducing chemicals); or the genes were transposed (moved), placing the genes in control of different promoters (gene control centers, so to speak), so that the stress hormones were created when they shouldn't be or the stress reducing hormones weren't created when they should be.

All of those are possible, and I'm sure I missed a few other possibilities. But let's get back to the big picture. Because of this/these mutations, we end up with a generation of humans (or humanoid descendants) who have a heightened fear of anything/anyone different. This response is natural, as evolution tends to keep genes as pure as possible, and different means, usually, different genes. However, because of the mutation, this response becomes heightened and possibly irrational. Whether or not there is reason to fear the other "tribes" of people, the fear is there and strong.

Why would this evolve? Having this extra fear allows this new generation to be more prepared to fight/defend themselves, even if it may not be necessary. On the other hand, the previous generation (and same generation individuals without the mutation) is trusting of other "tribes" and has no reason to be extra cautious of them. When those tribes do decide to attack and/or steal food, the new generation is ready to defend themselves and survive, while the non-mutants die in attacks or of starvation due to food shortages.

Hence, the mutated gene lives on, and is passed down to future generations, which all in turn become prejudiced: fearful and/or untrusting of individuals who are different from themselves.

At least, it makes sense to me, and would sure explain why humans tend to be so prejudice toward fellow humans.

Now, can this de-evolve (as in, get thrown away should a future mutation counter-act this one)? I doubt it. In this world, sadly, being too trusting can get one killed. Getting killed means less chance of offspring, and thus, less chance to pas on the "trust" gene. So, no, I highly doubt humans will lose prejudice, at least not genetically. Perhaps one day we can learn to balance our prejudice with our reason, but that will have to be an intellectual evolution, not a genetic one.

So, what are your thoughts on this?

-IMP ;) :)

Curst Saden - January 19, 2007 04:11 AM (GMT)

I don't think i've ever read a theory on how humans could genetically pass on prejudice. It's very interesting. All i can say is that, assuming this is true for the sake of the argument, its a major case of survival of the fittist, natural selection and whatnot. Therefore, those with the gene who survive (and these days, that's quite common) will continue to pass it on, until it becomes obsolets and possibly will be weeded out of our system (which could take thousands, if not hundreds of thousands or millions of years).

sitegod - January 22, 2007 10:27 PM (GMT)

We are forgetting the environmental factors in the human body which can affect genes. This "fear" gene may not even exist, or it might not have as much of a significance in the human prejudice as it may seem.

I'd probably say that while this sounds contradictory, earlier humans may well have found the more fearful (and therefore more aggressive and thus more "manly") humans attractive and thus brought the mating process and then the children are also conditioned to fear the other tribe and so on and so on until it's become more social customs to fear the other tribe moreso than it being genetic. Of course it goes without saying that those without the fear were less aggressive when faced with the other tribe, thus less "manly" and less likely to mate and knowing this the fearless human becomes more aggressive as to show off to the potential mate and then conditions the offspring to do the same.

I wouldn't say I'm an expert on genes but I'd find it far more plausible that it was just a very powerful environmental thing more than a genetic. Of course, I'm not saying it might be nothing down to genes, as with most things in life it could easily be a mix.

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