When Culture and Biology Collide
Subtitle: Why We Are Stressed, Depressed, and Self-Obsessed
Publisher: Rutgers University Press
Published: July 1, 2002
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 266
ISBN-13: 9780813531038
Subjects: Behavioural theory (Behaviourism); Cultural studies; Sociology; Life Sciences - Evolution - Human; Human Biology (General); Social Science; Archaeology / Anthropology; Social change; Social aspects; Social Psychology; Anthropology - Cultural; Sociology - General; Life Sciences - Biology - General; Human biology; Human evolution
Description: "Why do we do things that we know are bad for us? Why do we line up to buy greasy fast food that is terrible for our bodies? Why do we take the potentially lethal risk of cosmetic surgery to have a smaller nose, bigger lips, or a less wrinkled face? Why do we risk life and limb in a fit of road rage to seek revenge against someone who merely cut us off in traffic?

If these life choices are simply responses to cultural norms and pressures, then why did these particularly self-destructive patterns evolve in place of more sensible ones?" "In When Culture and Biology Collide, E. O. Smith explores behaviors that are endemic to contemporary Western society, and proposes new ways of understanding and addressing these problems.".

"Topics such as drug abuse, depression, beauty and self-image, obesity and dieting, stress and violence, ethnic diversity, and welfare are all used as sample case studies."--BOOK JACKET.