We Aren't the World: Why Americans Make Bad Study Subjects

Lasrick writes "This is just fascinating: Joe Henrich and his colleagues are shaking the foundations of psychology and economics, and explain why social science studies of Westerners — and Americans in particular — don't really tell us about the human condition: 'Given the data, they concluded that social scientists could not possibly have picked a worse population from which to draw broad generalizations. Researchers had been doing the equivalent of studying penguins while believing that they were learning insights applicable to all birds.'"

Comments

What?

[Anonymous Coward]

"Researchers had been doing the equivalent of studying penguins while believing that they were learning insights applicable to all birds.'"

Are they saying all the Americans are fat birds, unable to fly?

Re:What?

[PolygamousRanchKid]

Are they saying all the Americans are fat birds, unable to fly?

In Third World countries, only the rich can afford to be fat.

In America, only the rich can afford to be thin.

And in America, almost everyone can afford to fly. Which is unfortunate, if you get the middle seat, between two fat folks.

American Exceptionalism!

[Freddybear]

Now scientifically proven! ;)

Re:If you wanted to know about humans,

[Dogtanian]

The internet does as well. In fact it has made the minority seem like a majority for a long time. It is amazingly easy to create an echo chamber here.

I agree- good point!

Re:If you wanted to know about humans,

[dkf]

I use the three shells where I live on the east coast of America.

I figure that must be bash, ksh and what? csh? zsh? ash? Don't keep us in suspense here!