Are We Still Primitive? How Ancient Survival Instincts Shape Modern Power Struggles

[Judi Lynn]

February 18, 2025
By Eurasia Review

The evolutionary roots of human dominance and aggression remain central to social and political behaviour, and without conscious intervention these primal survival drives will continue to fuel inequality and division.
These are the arguments of a medical professor who, as global conflicts rise and democracies face growing challenges, says understanding how dominance and tribal instincts fuel division is more critical than ever.

In A New Approach to Human Social Evolution, Professor Jorge A. Colombo MD, PhD explores neuroscience, anthropology, and behavioural science to provide a new perspective on human social evolution.

He argues that fundamental behavioural drives – such as dominance, survival instincts, and competition – are hardwired into our species and continue to shape global politics, economic inequality, and social structures today. Without a conscious effort to counteract these instincts, we risk perpetuating the cycles of power struggles, inequality, and environmental destruction that define much of human history.

“In an era marked by rising authoritarianism, economic inequality, environmental crises, and nationalism, understanding how ancient survival mechanisms continue to shape human behaviour is crucial,” he explains. “With increasing polarisation in politics, conflicts over resources, and the struggle for social justice, I contend that only through education and universal values can humanity transcend these instincts to foster a more sustainable and equitable society.”

More:
https://www.eurasiareview.com/18022025-are-we-still-primitive-how-ancient-survival-instincts-shape-modern-power-struggles/

[rampartd]

1. jane goodall should have studied this trump guy. n/t

chimps are more civilized than the mar a lago troop

[GiqueCee]

2. Chimps are actually pretty aggressive...

... Bonobos might better exemplify peaceful equanimity we would do well to emulate.

[Mike 03]

3. We have come up with all sorts of cultural techniques to disguise or

minimize those primitive behaviors, but they emerge in stressful situations as emotions become harder to contain. That's why some analysts, like Michael Klare, predicted some time ago that global warming and scarcity of resources would cause us to revert to a more brutal, uncaring state where traits like cooperation, altruism and compassion are looked down upon or considered disadvantageous to survival. You can see it happening now, by looking at the character of the people who are being elected as leaders worldwide.

Game Theory also predicts a "Tragedy of the Commons" type situation like Klare's scenario.

And for those of us who have asked if there are more sociopaths now than there used to be and, if so, why?--this idea that we are adapting to an environment where caring and kindness are seen as undesirable could provide a partial answer. I really don't like what I think is on the horizon.

[Irish_Dem]

4. Seems obvious that all the hoarding of money and resources by the rich is Darwinian.

A throw back to when resources were limited and life was hard.

Now the rich hoard more money than they can ever spend.