No. 93 of 108
September 14, 2025
A new study “involving more than 3,500 adults across a dozen countries… shows that when people—from big, technologically advanced cities to humble Amazonian villages—face tough decisions, they are far more likely to rely on their own intuition or reasoning than to take guidance from friends, family, or experts. While the preference for self-reliance remained general across all cultures… the strength of that preference depends on where one comes from. Culture controls the volume knob, dialing up that inner voice in highly independent societies and softening it somewhat in more interdependent ones… For better or worse, it’s our own counsel that we trust most.”
“Ahah! I’m right!” says (mostly) everyone. With humor, and a bit of self-humility? Or… with righteous indignation in an echo chamber? Or… with you do your thing, I’ll do mine? Or… with I’m right! and you are %&*# wrong! Apparently, we mostly follow our own advice. How, when and why matters. Especially now, so attached to the silos of same-thinkingness, so fearful and angry with others. Especially now, when this apparently inherent trait has been advantageously mined for commerce, influence, and gain.