A. Because we are tribal territorial animals programmed by instincts to form tribes and contend with one another.
Q. Why don’t we notice these instincts provoking our behavior?
A. Because the left-brain interpreter function (as described in Dr. Gazzaniga’s books) automatically generates “rational” conscious explanations for everything we do that is motivated by unconscious instincts.
Q. Why hasn’t this been publicized?
A. That is what I would like to know, too. … It appears that Dr’s Gazzaniga, Cosmides, Tooby, Pinker, et al. are either a) blind to this reality, or b) prefer to avoid the opprobrium awaiting the first scientist to acknowledge our behavior is influenced by instincts:
a) It’s possible they actually are blind to it, because the brain is capable of blocking awareness of things contrary to existing beliefs, even in scientists. (For example, belief in “blank slate” Behaviorism misled scientists for several generations, and dissenting observations were routinely ignored.)
b) It’s also possible they remember the vituperation that greeted E.O. Wilson’s introduction of Sociobiology, and rightfully hesitate to call a similar firestorm down upon themselves. … Scientific findings contrary to prevailing beliefs – be they religious or secular – always invite mobs with torches and pitchforks, and sometimes they’re garbed in academic regalia.
Q. Is information about our tribal territorial animal nature available anywhere?
A. Yes. The book “Man by Nature: The Hidden Programming Controlling Human Behavior” describes the neuroscientific research that makes it possible to understand how we can be tribal territorial animals largely controlled by instincts and yet be totally unaware of it; it also develops a “tribal programming theory of human behavior” that describes characteristic human tribal traits and shows how they affect our everyday national, political, religious, and even academic behavior.
Q. Where can I get the book, or information about it?
A. Amazon.com allows you to view pages of the book and to purchase it. ... It is also available at most other online bookstores.
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