Comments on: Nice or Nasty? New Research Answers Human Nature Question

By: Steve F. Foster

Steve F. Foster — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:32:35 +0000

Years ago the Canadian psychologist D.O. Hebb published an article about cross species altruism with observations of dogs & dolphins coming to the aid of humans, sometimes at their own risk. Organization Psychologist Douglas McGregor wrote about Theory X (people aren’t to be trusted) vs. Theory Y (people basically mean well though they can be corrupted). Systematic evidence favors altruism, human skepticism and some theology (original sin, eg) support pessimism about human nature.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 06:38:46 +0000

Usually people are only nasty and short-tempered to me on Thursdays and Fridays…that’s when most Americans are severely stressed and sleep-deprived.

By: john locke

john locke — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:47:37 +0000

mijoje1; In our society, common courtesy is all but dead. It’s rare to get a “please”, “thank you”, or “excuse me”. I think the third one might as well have been written in hieroglyphics. —– That may be dependent on where you live in terms of climate and crowding. The combination of these two attributes of living conditions cause people to be abrupt with each other. Where I live (along the eastern seaboard in the Carolinas) most everyone is polite. In fact, it’s a rarity to encounter someone rude. My previous residence (around the Washington, D.C. area) evolved to the level of incivility that you have expressed.

By: mijoje1

mijoje1 — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:19:09 +0000

Absolutely! In our society, common courtesy is all but dead. It’s rare to get a “please”, “thank you”, or “excuse me”. I think the third one might as well have been written in hieroglyphics — it takes an act of Congress to get someone to say “excuse me”.

By: Tim C

Tim C — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:35:39 +0000

We have evolved into nasty! I don’t forsee people getting any nicer anytime soon.

By: carolyn

carolyn — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:35:56 +0000

however, we humans still suck.