In my last posting I noted that I resented really rich people. No wonder--humans have evolved an innate belief in fairness. Dr. Ernst Fehr of the University of Zurich discovered that by the age of 6 or 7, children share jelly beans and enforce an equal distribution. They seem to do this instinctively.
Most primitive groups are low hierarchy groups. There is some hierarchy, but it is not like that of chimpanzees, where one individual establishes dominance and can do whatever he wants. In a study of five hunter-gatherer populations, a University of Washington professor found the average degree of income equality to be about half that found in the U.S. and close to what is seen in Denmark.
When the inequality is too great, brain scans show increased activity in the amygdala. This is followed by “the arousal of higher cortical domains associated with introspection, conflict resolution, and upholding rules.” In other words we have a visceral reaction and an intellectual aversion to unfair distribution. For the full report on the research, go to Natalie Angier’s article at <http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/science/05angier.html?_r=1&ref=evolution>.
So, don’t feel guilty if you are angry with guys making $10 million a year while you struggle along on unemployment. It is part of our genetic heritage, and it is helpful for the survival of the tribe. These greedheads are putting the whole tribe in danger, and we need to band together to bring them into line. One way would be to increase their taxes.
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