Character Quote by Cacilda Jethá
““In The Moral Animal, Robert Wright laments, "A basic underlying dynamic between men and women is mutual exploitation. They seem, at times, designed to make each other miserable." Don't believe it. We aren't designed to make each other miserable. This view holds evolution responsible for the mismatch between our evolved predispositions and the post-agricultural socioeconomic world we find ourselves in. The assertion that human beings are naturally monogamous is not just a lie; it's a lie most Western societies insist we keep telling each other.””
About This Quote
The quote challenges the notion that human relationships are inherently antagonistic or that monogamy is natural, arguing that such ideas misattribute social mismatches to evolution rather than cultural change.
In simple terms: Critiques evolutionary determinism about gender dynamics.
Key Takeaway
Evolutionary explanations often ignore cultural context.
Themes
gender relations
evolutionary psychology
social constructs
monogamy
cultural evolution
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
analytical
critical
When to use this quote
- academic debate on human nature
- relationship counseling
- policy discussions on family law
- media commentary on gender roles
Key Concepts
misinterpretation of biology
social mismatch
cultural conditioning
Practical Applications
- reframing relationship education
- informing sociocultural research
Questions to Reflect On
- How do cultural shifts reshape innate predispositions?
- What evidence supports monogamy as a social construct?
![“Remember the Tenth Commandment: "Thou shalt not covert thy neighbors house, thou shalt not covert thy neighbors wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox,nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbor's." Clearly, the biggest loser (aside from slaves, perhaps) in the…” quote by Cacilda Jethá](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/73f/cacilda-jeth-44451_biggest-loser_remember-the-tenth-commandment-thou-shal_2349702.jpg)
