Nigel! Prepare to say "DUH!"

[Salty]

JUST SAY NO TO THE CONCEPT OF NEURAL "HARDWIRING".

[Pæs]

I didn't fully read this last time I found this thread, but kind of ran into enough references to it elsewhere to think that I'd fully catch it later. Thanks for the bump!

[Reginald Ret]

Alty 

[Mesozoic Mister Nigel]

There are certainly some behavioral traits that are biologically embedded, but it's surprising not only how malleable most of our social behaviors are, but how deeply people tend to take for granted that the behaviors they are familiar with are the natural and universal human condition.

[Pæs]

Is "Think for yourself, Schmuck" as appropriate advice in cultures where the hivemind is healthier, or does it need to be modified in those situations to something like "Be aware that you can think for yourself, but to be honest, your culturally ingrained behaviours are actually a pretty stable foundation for happiness. Schmuck."?

[LMNO]

I've always felt that "thinking for yourself" doesn't mean "do the opposite of everyone else," or "ignore outside advice".

If you think it over, and decide the hivemind is a better tool for your current needs, then you should use it.