The WEIRDest People in the World

Why are Western societies so 'WEIRD'? The answer lies in the ancient rules of the Western Church that reshaped our thoughts, relationships, and institutions.

1. WEIRD: A New Way to View Western Societies

The psychology of Western societies is unlike most other cultures. Harvard scholar Joseph Henrich calls them WEIRD – Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic. This acronym highlights how these societies behave and think in unique ways compared to the rest of the world. Westerners prioritize individual rights and tend to think analytically.

Henrich explores how WEIRD psychology causes Westerners to behave differently. They believe in strict moral principles, resist conformity, trust strangers more, and focus on individualism rather than collectivism. In many other cultures, loyalty to family or community far outweighs abstract moral rules. Western societies, however, often see morality as universal.

These psychological traits, Henrich suggests, are a result of cultural evolution. Over centuries, Western societies developed specific practices that favored these attributes. Henrich warns that these traits are not inherently “better” but distinctive to the West. Their formation wasn’t intentional but an outcome of centuries-long social, religious, and cultural processes.

Examples

• Westerners rate honesty as a higher priority than loyalty to family in surveys.
• In Western Europe, individuals choose careers and hobbies based on personal passion, while in many other cultures, family decisions often guide these choices.
• Studies show Western parents emphasize creativity and independence in children, while many other cultures value obedience and respect for elders.

2. Kin-Based Societies: The Non-WEIRD World

For most of history, humans formed tightly knit family-based societies. Kin groups, such as tribes and clans, determined much of daily life and governed social structures. These kin-based systems revolved around loyalty to family, abiding by traditions, and prioritizing group welfare over individual aspirations.

Non-WEIRD societies relied on kin-altruism, a focus on helping close genetic relatives. Roles were clear: elders held authority, and new couples often lived with the husband’s extended family. Marriages were arranged to benefit clans, and even polygamous unions were common, especially among high-status men.

Unlike WEIRD societies, kin-based cultures were cautious of strangers, avoided straying from traditions, and preferred holistic ways of thinking. For millennia, this structure worked well for human groups, offering stability and protection, until certain changes disrupted these patterns, starting in Europe.

Examples

• Many cultures in Africa and Asia track inheritance and lineage through male family members.
• Polygamy in tribal societies allowed chieftains to forge stronger alliances and consolidate power.
• Arranged marriages in kin-based societies improved family ties and preserved mutual benefits between clans.

3. The Western Church’s Marriage and Family Program

The fall of the Roman Empire marked a significant shift in European culture, spearheaded by the Western Church. Its Marriage and Family Program (MFP) targeted kin-based systems, establishing rules that reshaped family dynamics forever. These rules eventually ruptured traditional kin networks.

The Church banned marriage between close relatives, discouraging the cousin unions and polygamy practiced in many other cultures. Monogamy became the norm, and “illegitimate” children were stripped of inheritance rights to encourage unions within the Church’s guidelines. The Church also promoted voluntary, public marriages and wealth redistribution through charitable donations.

These policies pulled societies away from extended kin groups, eventually creating independent nuclear families. Over time, people started prioritizing personal goals and moved beyond solely familial obligations, setting the stage for broader interactions with outsiders and new social organizations.

Examples

• Cousin marriages common across cultures were largely outlawed in Europe by the Church.
• Wealthy Europeans donated land to the Church rather than leaving it to their offspring.
• Public marriage ceremonies became standard, signaling a shift from familial secrecy to community participation.

4. Monogamy: A Transformative Social Rule

One of the Western Church’s lasting influences was the establishment of monogamy. By banning polygamy, a practice common in other cultures, the Church set the stage for significant societal change. This wasn’t merely a moral decision – it fundamentally altered social and psychological behavior among men.

Polygamy favors high-status men while leaving many low-status men without marriage prospects. This dynamic drives competition among males, leading to aggression and instability. Monogamy, however, equalized opportunities for men, discouraging destructive behaviors and fostering societal harmony. Men in monogamous relationships also exhibited lower testosterone levels, focusing more on parenting than mating competition.

This shift contributed to reduced violence and better child-rearing environments. Monogamy is linked to lower crime rates, fewer social conflicts, and a greater emphasis on family stability – key ingredients that created the West’s modern societies.

Examples

• Anthropological studies found richer, polygamous men in several non-Western tribes controlled resources and power.
• Married Western men contribute to community stability, commit fewer crimes, and are less aggressive.
• Research shows monogamous bird species share parenting responsibilities more equally than polygamous species.

5. Breaking Kin Networks Opened New Possibilities

Discouraging cousin marriages and promoting independent family units wasn’t just a relationship policy – it had far-reaching social consequences. Without close family ties keeping people bound to their roots, the Europeans ventured beyond their kin to form voluntary relationships.

As these new bonds formed, trade, cooperation, and mingling of ideas increased. Over time, voluntary associations led to economic markets, the rise of cities, and local governments. Without strict allegiance to extended families, individuals were free to chase new opportunities and experiment with novel ideas.

This slower unraveling of kin-based institutions laid the groundwork for Western urbanization, commerce, and governance systems. As ties to clans weakened, trust in strangers, cooperation, and meritocracy shaped the West’s thriving institutions.

Examples

• European farmers traded outside their villages instead of relying solely on kin for resources.
• Medieval guilds and voluntary associations became common hubs for trade and learning.
• Cities like Wittenberg thrived on collaboration, eventually hosting figures like Martin Luther.

6. Individualism Became Central to Western Thinking

The policies of the MFP promoted individual rights and eventually made independent thinking a cornerstone of Western culture. When extended families dissolved, people began focusing on their personal achievements and goals instead of always serving the collective welfare.

This individualism was evident in innovative approaches to governance, work, and philosophy during Western history. It also aligned with the modern-day concept of natural rights, as seen during the Enlightenment period and the American Revolution. The focus wasn’t just on groups anymore – individuals mattered, their lives, liberty, and property becoming key values.

The permission to develop one’s identity fueled scientific progress, economic growth, and democratic ideals in Western societies. This outlook, championed by independent thinkers, reshaped how people lived and ruled themselves.

Examples

• Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke argued for individual liberty and property rights.
• Individuals in modern Western societies select their life paths, professions, and beliefs rather than following set traditions.
• The Bill of Rights enshrines protections for personal freedoms, mirroring individualistic ideals.

7. Economic Markets Thrived on Trust and Cooperation

Henrich believes the cultural transformation sparked by the MFP set the stage for economic markets to thrive in the West. As trust between strangers grew and cooperative networks expanded, commerce and innovation blossomed.

Markets require fair practices, honesty, and mutual agreements, but in many kin-based societies, such trust for outsiders was lacking. As Westerners developed broader networks beyond family ties, these markets, aided by Protestant work ethics of thrift and persistence, turned Europe into an economic powerhouse.

This economic boom can be tied back to the cultural shift initiated by Church policies. Trust between strangers created the conditions for commerce, while individualism encouraged entrepreneurial spirit.

Examples

• Medieval fairs in Europe brought together traders who trusted one another without familial ties.
• Protestant leaders emphasized hard work as virtuous, influencing modern capitalism.
• Traders who developed reputations for fairness succeeded in early Western markets.

8. Education and Knowledge Flourished

Western institutions like universities, monasteries, and charter towns became centers of learning through cultural evolution. Encouraged by rising individualism and openness, people flocked to these places for enlightenment and innovation.

This quest for knowledge produced critical advancements in sciences and the arts. Universities, such as the one in Wittenberg, helped shape Western societies. Openness to criticism and nonconformity encouraged breakthroughs in thought, guiding everything from the Reformation to modern science.

Education thrived in the West thanks partly to cultural changes that started with the Church breaking traditional bonds of kin and conformity.

Examples

• Some of the world’s first universities appeared in medieval Europe, such as Oxford.
• Martin Luther’s reformation ideas spread through academic circles in charter towns.
• Scientific revolutions were driven by critics willing to challenge entrenched ideas.

9. The Domino Effect of Cultural Evolution

Cultural changes don’t occur by design but as a natural evolution over time. The MFP policies of the Western Church set off a domino effect that altered how societies interacted, thought, and evolved. These changes led to profound influences on governance, wealth, and social norms.

The Enlightenment’s focus on natural rights, the rise of modern democracies, and advancements in commerce can all be traced back to the Church’s reshaping of relationships and trust. Voluntary associations, urbanized societies, and the value placed on the individual became defining features of the West.

The progression wasn’t intentional but highlights how a single shift in norms can lead to extraordinary transformations over time.

Examples

• The American Declaration of Independence embodies personal rights shaped by Western history.
• Democratic governance evolved through trial-and-error in early European towns.
• Free markets succeeded when founders prized trust and fairness above kin loyalty.

Takeaways

1. Engage with people outside your immediate social circles to broaden your understanding and foster collaboration.
2. Practice fairness and trust in your work and dealings – these behaviors build lasting relationships and opportunities.
3. Embrace individuality but maintain curiosity about how shared traditions can also offer lessons and stability.