2008-04-12 You Can Blame the Bugs

2008-04-12 Sharon Begley Newsweek \human nature\anthropology\science reporting\Richard Nisbett\The Geography of Thought http://www.newsweek.com/id/130623 You Can Blame the Bugs &ldquo;In general, tropical regions have more pathogens, and societies there tend to be more group-oriented than those at higher latitudes.&rdquo; a theory which may explain why some cultures are more collectivist and others more individualist: When the scientists examined how closely collectivism tracked the prevalence of pathogens, they found a strong correlation, they will report in Proceedings of the Royal Society B. In general, tropical regions have more pathogens, and societies there tend to be more group-oriented than those at higher latitudes. Ecuador, Panama, Pakistan, India, China and Japan are the world's most group-first societies – and historically have had the highest prevalence of natural pathogens due to their climate and topography. The most individualistic are in Northern Europe and the United States, where there have historically been fewer native pathogens. But parts of China go very far north, as do parts of Japan; how do they qualify as "equatorial"? ''Also, from what I know of India, it seems less "collectivist" than China, although this may be a recent thing. -''    