The hottest Human behavior Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Literature Topics

Can we do systems?

Douglass’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🔬 Science Human behavior
  1. Nature conducts slow, limited experiments to avoid harming the entire system.
  2. Humans possess tools like atomic bombs and bioweapons that threaten our own systems more than nature does.
  3. We have not been smart about understanding our place as humans and often fail to consider what we are dependent on.

Carnage (Roman Polanski, 2011)

RUINS • 0 implied HN points • 29 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Human behavior
  1. In the film Carnage, the story revolves around the human quest for justice and the concept of blame.
  2. The movie portrays how people often struggle to assign blame in a quest for justice, especially in the face of terrible events.
  3. Carnage highlights dysfunctional relationships among adults while children show the capacity for reconciliation, reflecting on the breakdown of human relations in modern culture.
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The French Revolution!

The False Consensus Effect • 0 implied HN points • 13 Nov 20
💾 History Human behavior
  1. The French Revolution significantly impacted the restructuring of the French nation-state, outlawing centuries-old feudal ties and leading to the emergence of a new monarch
  2. Fear of mortal retribution and group paranoia fueled the extreme violence and mass murder during the Reign of Terror in the French Revolution
  3. The Revolution highlights a loss of wisdom in modern society, emphasizing the importance of love, art, and beauty in leading fulfilling lives

Shaming with and without naming

world spirit sock stack • 0 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Human behavior
  1. Shaming can lead to positive utilitarian outcomes in two ways: by instilling fear to avoid wrongdoing and by internalizing values to reduce such behaviors.
  2. Naming the person being shamed can lead to more fear-based avoidance, while not naming them might result in more internalization of values.
  3. Choosing whether to name the person in shaming efforts can impact the outcomes by influencing how individuals align with social norms and values.

Why R tends towards 1

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 12 Aug 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Human behavior
  1. People's behavior plays a significant role in determining how a pandemic like Covid-19 progresses, even more than epidemiological models predict.
  2. Understanding the concept of R0, the basic reproduction number, helps in identifying peak infection points and herd immunity thresholds.
  3. Human behavior can cause fluctuations in the effective reproduction rate of a virus, ultimately leading to an equilibrium point where the virus becomes stable and endemic.

cáo tật thị chúng

Thái | Hacker | Kỹ sư tin tặc • 0 implied HN points • 14 Jan 09
📖 Philosophy Human behavior
  1. Sometimes we may act cruel to feel superior to others, but this behavior might just happen naturally without control.
  2. We tend to blindly believe authority figures without questioning, only to realize later that they can be wrong too.
  3. At times, we may go along with things we dislike out of fear of rejection or to avoid making others upset, but in the end, it just makes us unhappy.

The Existential Challenge for Search Engines

The Digital Anthropologist • 0 implied HN points • 25 Jul 23
🕹 Technology Human behavior
  1. Search engines face challenges similar to newspapers did with increasing ads and advertorial content, blurring lines between sponsored and genuine content.
  2. Consumers are now more aware of SEO tactics and the dominance of ads on search engines, leading them to seek valuable results on second or third pages.
  3. There's a shift in how people want and expect to search, leaning towards in-app search features and a desire for context-driven results over mere links.

Institutional code and human behavior (2)

Space chimp life • 0 implied HN points • 20 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Human behavior
  1. Processes are a collection of actions that help achieve a goal. They can vary depending on how you define them, like swimming or walking.
  2. Stories and reenactments can shape behavior by creating shared understandings of roles. They convey lessons and expectations in a way that can influence people without direct language.
  3. Shame and rituals, like dance or religion, can enforce social codes and behaviors. They help society manage roles and relationships, guiding how people interact with each other.

Institutional code and human behavior (1)

Space chimp life • 0 implied HN points • 26 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Human behavior
  1. Human behavior is deeply influenced by social institutions, such as language, art, and religion. These institutions shape how we connect and operate in society.
  2. Every institution has a kind of 'code' that guides its functions and roles, similar to how computer programs run on code. This code helps define what members can do and how they interact.
  3. Foundational roles in early institutions likely included distinctions based on sexual and social dynamics, shaping how humans formed relationships and organized themselves.

Institutional code and human behavior (1)

Space chimp life • 0 implied HN points • 25 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Human behavior
  1. Our human nature is deeply intertwined with institutions, which shape many of our social behaviors like language, art, and economy. Understanding these institutions can help us see how they influence our lives.
  2. Institutions need certain features to operate effectively, like defining roles for members and processes for decision-making. These codes help govern interactions and resource management within a group.
  3. A big part of how we relate to each other in institutions comes from our basic human roles, including sexual roles. These roles may have been some of the first defined in ancient societies, influencing how we build social structures today.

Institutions as Forms of Life

Space chimp life • 0 implied HN points • 08 Jan 24
📖 Philosophy Human behavior
  1. Institutions are not just groups of people; their behavior is shaped by their structures and incentives. This means they can act in ways that don't always reflect what individuals want, like ignoring climate change.
  2. An institution can exist without humans entirely; in the future, AI might take over all roles in institutions without changing their function. This shows that institutions operate like living things, independent of their human creators.
  3. To improve institutions, we need to help them adjust their decisions based on long-term effects instead of short-term profits. Providing better communication and information from people can help institutions make smarter choices.

Don’t try to optimise life decisions

Tecnica • 0 implied HN points • 28 Jul 24
📖 Philosophy Human behavior
  1. Life decisions can be unpredictable, and overthinking them isn't always helpful. Sometimes, a seemingly small choice can lead to big changes.
  2. We often need to balance enjoying the present and thinking about the future when making decisions. It's a choice between being happy now or planning for what's ahead.
  3. Accept that life is a chaotic system, and not every decision will turn out the way you expect. It's okay to embrace the uncertainty instead of trying to control everything.

AI and another confrontation

Splattern • 0 implied HN points • 29 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Human behavior
  1. AI is changing how we think about intelligence. As machines get smarter, the importance of human intelligence might decrease.
  2. Skills like love and relationship-building may become more valuable than just being smart. It's nice to focus on connecting with others rather than always trying to show off our intelligence.
  3. Facing confrontations can lead to growth. Engaging with others, even in tense situations, can be more rewarding than avoiding them.

Error Correction

Splattern • 0 implied HN points • 08 Jul 21
📖 Philosophy Human behavior
  1. The Alexander Technique helps improve body awareness and sensitivity. This means becoming more in tune with how your body actually moves versus how you think it moves.
  2. Our understanding can be limited by our habits and experiences. Sometimes, a new perspective or outside influence can help us see things differently.
  3. Often, people don't act incorrectly on purpose. We can misjudge our actions because we don't have the right information or awareness about what we are doing.

The unwritten clock of human behaviour

Tranquil Thoughts • 0 implied HN points • 07 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Human behavior
  1. You can notice the passage of time by observing people's behaviors, rather than just looking at a clock or calendar.
  2. Certain events and trends, like the busy gym in January, can happen in predictable patterns every year.
  3. Every month has its own unique signs, like holiday decorations or weather changes, which can help you identify the time of year.

Coming soon: Unmoderated Insights

Unmoderated Insights • 0 implied HN points • 26 May 23
🕹 Technology Human behavior
  1. The blog focuses on breaking down complex topics into simple explanations. It's meant for people who like understanding things without the confusion.
  2. It emphasizes the importance of data over beliefs, especially regarding social technologies and their impact on our lives.
  3. The author invites readers to subscribe and share the blog with others who might enjoy it or benefit from it.

Must Civilization be Based on a Lie?

Mon0’s Substack • 0 implied HN points • 03 Jul 23
📖 Philosophy Human behavior
  1. Norms are the shared rules that help organize societies, and they can come from people known as norm entrepreneurs who want to change or create new norms.
  2. Sometimes norm entrepreneurs face challenges convincing everyone of new ideas because people naturally resist change and prefer the familiar.
  3. Interestingly, some norm entrepreneurs might use intuitive appeals or even reinforce norms through religion to bypass the need for rational debates, suggesting that manipulation might occur for the perceived greater good.

Sustainability: An Introduction

Divergent Futures • 0 implied HN points • 30 Sep 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Human behavior
  1. Sustainability means creating systems that can last forever, not just using solar panels or wind turbines. It's about how we live and use resources in a way that doesn't deplete them.
  2. The way we consume resources needs to change to match the planet's ability to regenerate them. Ideas like a Circular Economy and Degrowth suggest we can consume smarter and build better without running out of resources.
  3. Caring about sustainability isn’t just about the planet. It’s about people too. Everything we need comes from others, so if we want to take care of ourselves, we should care about how we treat our environment and society.

unfinished thoughts

Midnight Musings • 0 implied HN points • 22 Aug 22
📖 Philosophy Human behavior
  1. Taking proactive action helps you imagine a better future, rather than just reacting to everything around you. Creating space for your thoughts can lead to more meaningful personal growth.
  2. Our belief in what we're doing influences our health more than we might think. Instead of following strict health guidelines, listening to our bodies and trusting our instincts may lead to better well-being.
  3. What does 'home' really mean? It might be less about a physical place and more about feeling at peace and connected with ourselves and others.

Be aware: Linear Thinking

Marcio Klepacz • 0 implied HN points • 21 Jun 24
📖 Philosophy Human behavior
  1. Linear thinking is when people keep using the same solution, hoping for better results, but that often doesn't work. It can even lead to worse outcomes when pushed too far.
  2. Just because you put in more effort doesn't guarantee you will get more results. Sometimes, it's about working smarter, not harder.
  3. Be mindful of the limits of things that seem positive, as pushing them too far can lead to unexpected negative results. Always consider possible consequences before acting.

Lies We Tell in Leadership, Part 3: Polite Fictions

Adventures in Leadership Land • 0 implied HN points • 23 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Human behavior
  1. Polite fictions are lies we tell each other to maintain gaps between ideals and behaviors.
  2. Organizations often create polite fictions to mask dysfunctional behaviors and maintain social cohesion.
  3. Maintaining polite fictions in leadership can involve pretending to follow all rules, treating everyone fairly, and suppressing personal influences in the workplace.

Conflict Resolution in a sentence

Devansh’s Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 09 Jul 25
🎭️ Culture Human behavior
  1. To solve conflicts, it's important for everyone to express their needs clearly. When people can understand each other's perspectives, issues can often be resolved quickly.
  2. Before we can listen to others, we need to feel heard ourselves. Emotions can block our ability to empathize, so it's vital to talk about our feelings first.
  3. Conflict resolution is like being a superhero in a chaotic situation. It takes skill and empathy to help others connect and rebuild trust amidst emotional challenges.