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Hardwired Behavior: What Neuroscience Reveals about Morality
In many areas of modern life rapid developments in science are overwhelming established norms. Brain biology, through DNA testing and advanced brain imaging techniques, has given medical scientists new insights into the functioning of the human mind. This erosion of long-standing beliefs has many implications for understanding and treating what society considers to be aberrant or immoral behavior. What medical science is indicating is that the focus of our emphasis on mental processes--particularly free will and intentionality--is shifting to recognition of the important role the physical brain plays on human thought and behavior. In Hardwired Behavior the author argues that social morality begins in the brain, for without the brain there would be no concept of morality. Individual responsibility, therefore, must be reconsidered in the light of biological brain processes. The question of whether new scientific findings destroy the relevance of free will, placing it in the context of biological forces that may operate outside the conscious control of the actor, is one of intense debate. Hardwired Behavior takes this question and moves it into the open by clearly detailing neuroscience discoveries and explaining how the ancient precepts of "morality" that have guided mankind throughout its history must now be seen through the new lens of brain biology.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published September 19, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 15, 2019
I had great expectations of this book. But was rather disappointed. That's not unusual, I've discovered the same sort of thing with most (all?) books that purport to describe how the brain works. I recall spending many train-trips, on the way to school, as a 15 year old trying to digest a book about how the brain works....or it might have just focused on memory.....only to be bitterly disappointed. (It was all about the measurement of brain waves and the synchronisation of alpha waves etc. But really gave me no serious insights into the working of the brain).
And now 60 years later, I find a book that actually has a lot more data and knowledge behind it but it still seems to me that there is a lot of "hand waving' with descriptions that say things like "Regions like the prefrontal lobe and the limbic system figure dominantly in our cognitive capacities, our ability to reason etc." I guess I was looking for something that got down into the nitty gritty a little more with the biochemistry ironed out.
I didn't find this an easy book to read....but then nobody ever said neuroscience was easy. But I think it could have been a lot clearer with better diagrams. The two diagrams supplied are very superficial and the author keeps referring to parts of the brain that are not shown in the diagrams. I would like to have seen much more in the way of fMRI photographs which highlighted brain activity and so on. I would also have liked to see views of the brain from other than a longitudinal cross-section...maybe a 3d cut-away. And colour might have helped. Tancrdi, throws in a lot of neuro-anatomy which is confusing...especially as his diagrams are so poor.
I was also frustrated by the author's main "case study" the mass murderer, Ricky Green. Yes he was a "client" of the author but I found it very strange that all the author really did was to conclude that he had been the victim of violence and sexual abuse as a child; that he had an alcohol problem; and murders were associated with him drinking alcohol; and that he sometimes felt remorse. OK so far so good as a clinical psychiatrist. But he then extrapolates with (what are just surmises) that "He had bad role models in his primary family to imitate (mirror neutrons), augmented by a relatively ineffective inhibitory system (limbic structures, anterior cingulate cortex, orbital front cortex), which he dampened further by alcohol consumption, and an amygdala that had been conditioned by abuse...etc". In fact, Green was never subject to brain imaging technologies and there was no attempt made to actually measure any of these impacts. They are all assumptions. To be fair, he does quote numerous studies which shown the impact of violence to the child in their later behaviour and so on. But the best that can be said about his reasoning with Ricky Green's case that it is plausible but not demonstrated.
The other thing I find frustrating about the book is that we don't really get much closer to real understanding than knowing that certain areas of the brain might be involved in certain types of behaviour...for example..."parts of the pre-frontal lobe are essential for reasoning and executive functioning". I guess I was hoping for too much: that we might have narrowed this down more to the actual firing of neutrons sequences or something similar.
Having been rather critical up to now, it is only fair to say that Tancredi, actually does a reasonable job of convincing me that many of the behaviours that we now classify as bad or mad are probably due to genetic inheritance combined with environmental influences such as exposure to testosterone in utero, or sexual abuse as a child. And the brain is plastic and "free will" is more or less a bogus concept. He has an interesting section in the last chapter where he hypothesises about a future world where brain development is much better understood and most aberrant behaviour can be pinned down to specific causal factors and brain biology resulting from this. And techniques will be available for correcting the brain biology. (However, he doesn't expect that society, any time soon, is going to do away with the idea that individuals are responsible for their behaviour.
As a lawyer, Tancredi, points out that the standard now being applied to insanity is the inability to distinguish right from wrong. But he is also pointing out that many of the "bad" individuals being sentenced by the courts have dysfunctional brains.
Clearly, brain research has advanced a long way since I was reading about it as a 15 year old. We do know a lot more. But it is also very complex ...not only at the level of neutrons, and the biochemistry of the brain but also in the way that environmental influences interact with the genes to impact behaviour. The bottom line for me is that most of our morality is probably hard wired into the brain...maybe from birth (or pre-birth) but also later in life by significant events or exposure to chemicals or hormones.
And now 60 years later, I find a book that actually has a lot more data and knowledge behind it but it still seems to me that there is a lot of "hand waving' with descriptions that say things like "Regions like the prefrontal lobe and the limbic system figure dominantly in our cognitive capacities, our ability to reason etc." I guess I was looking for something that got down into the nitty gritty a little more with the biochemistry ironed out.
I didn't find this an easy book to read....but then nobody ever said neuroscience was easy. But I think it could have been a lot clearer with better diagrams. The two diagrams supplied are very superficial and the author keeps referring to parts of the brain that are not shown in the diagrams. I would like to have seen much more in the way of fMRI photographs which highlighted brain activity and so on. I would also have liked to see views of the brain from other than a longitudinal cross-section...maybe a 3d cut-away. And colour might have helped. Tancrdi, throws in a lot of neuro-anatomy which is confusing...especially as his diagrams are so poor.
I was also frustrated by the author's main "case study" the mass murderer, Ricky Green. Yes he was a "client" of the author but I found it very strange that all the author really did was to conclude that he had been the victim of violence and sexual abuse as a child; that he had an alcohol problem; and murders were associated with him drinking alcohol; and that he sometimes felt remorse. OK so far so good as a clinical psychiatrist. But he then extrapolates with (what are just surmises) that "He had bad role models in his primary family to imitate (mirror neutrons), augmented by a relatively ineffective inhibitory system (limbic structures, anterior cingulate cortex, orbital front cortex), which he dampened further by alcohol consumption, and an amygdala that had been conditioned by abuse...etc". In fact, Green was never subject to brain imaging technologies and there was no attempt made to actually measure any of these impacts. They are all assumptions. To be fair, he does quote numerous studies which shown the impact of violence to the child in their later behaviour and so on. But the best that can be said about his reasoning with Ricky Green's case that it is plausible but not demonstrated.
The other thing I find frustrating about the book is that we don't really get much closer to real understanding than knowing that certain areas of the brain might be involved in certain types of behaviour...for example..."parts of the pre-frontal lobe are essential for reasoning and executive functioning". I guess I was hoping for too much: that we might have narrowed this down more to the actual firing of neutrons sequences or something similar.
Having been rather critical up to now, it is only fair to say that Tancredi, actually does a reasonable job of convincing me that many of the behaviours that we now classify as bad or mad are probably due to genetic inheritance combined with environmental influences such as exposure to testosterone in utero, or sexual abuse as a child. And the brain is plastic and "free will" is more or less a bogus concept. He has an interesting section in the last chapter where he hypothesises about a future world where brain development is much better understood and most aberrant behaviour can be pinned down to specific causal factors and brain biology resulting from this. And techniques will be available for correcting the brain biology. (However, he doesn't expect that society, any time soon, is going to do away with the idea that individuals are responsible for their behaviour.
As a lawyer, Tancredi, points out that the standard now being applied to insanity is the inability to distinguish right from wrong. But he is also pointing out that many of the "bad" individuals being sentenced by the courts have dysfunctional brains.
Clearly, brain research has advanced a long way since I was reading about it as a 15 year old. We do know a lot more. But it is also very complex ...not only at the level of neutrons, and the biochemistry of the brain but also in the way that environmental influences interact with the genes to impact behaviour. The bottom line for me is that most of our morality is probably hard wired into the brain...maybe from birth (or pre-birth) but also later in life by significant events or exposure to chemicals or hormones.
February 24, 2022
An excellent book describing the connections of human behaviour with brain function and how our genetics, physiology, endocrine system, prior experiences and environment affect our behaviour. Our limbic system and emotions closely connected to our memory and the "moral frontal cortex", understandably play a key role in our behaviour. Good or bad behaviours are caused more by physiological mechanisms than by an unexplained "free will". The role of free will, if it exists, is just to veto the behavioral impulses presented to it. Behavioural impulses are themselves caused by physiological processes which can be described in reasonable detail. This understanding can bridge the gap between "the bad'' and "the mad''. The book makes a case for transition from mentalism to physicalism and shows how the physical brain works in moral decisions, and then examines threebroad areas of moral decision making: the brain in “bad” acts, the brain in decisions involving sexual relations, and the brain in money decision making. Increasing information on behaviour sciences can lead to an ability to control behaviour, which has its own moral implications.
March 22, 2018
Written by a psychiatrist cum lawyer, this book explores sins such as lust, deceit, and covetousness from a physicalist perspective. It first establishes that genetic predispositions need to be activated by the environment to become an aspect of character. For instance, normal children are shown to have an innate but basic sense of justice and empathy, but complex moral development awaits activation by experience. Infantile brain damage or early child abuse are known to increase the risk of psychopathy. It then explains how morality is all about social cohesiveness and represents the interplay between the emotional and rational neural circuits. As aberrant brain biology begets aberrant actions, legal definitions of insanity ought to be updated by neuroscientific advances. The book finishes with a futurist dystopian scenario on cybernetics to highlight some yet to be solves philosophical challenges. Five stars.
February 22, 2025
Extremely interesting but not all that interactive. Missed the mark for me, unfortunately.
July 1, 2012
Hardwired Behavior: What Neuroscience Reveals about Morality by Laurence Tancredi
" Hardwired Behavior" is the very interesting book about the latest findings of neuroscience research and their possible effect on our understanding of humankind's moral precepts. Laurence Tancredi is interesting enough a psychiatrist-lawyer, a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine and the author of "Dangerous Diagnostics" and "When Law and Medicine Meet". This fascinating 240-page book is composed of the following twelve chapters: 1. Neuroscience and Morality, 2. Morality and the Mind, 3. Beyond the Mind Zone, 4. The Moral Brain, 5. Bad without Conscience, 6. The Biology of Choice, 7. Sex, and the Single Moral Code, 8. Brain, Biology and Sex, 9. Deception, 10. The Biology of Money, 11. The Bad and the Mad, and 12. Creating a Moral Brain.
Positives:
1. A fascinating topic in a straightforward conversational tone.
2. A very accessible book, the author does a wonderful job of keeping this book intelligible.
3. The latest in neuroscience and how morality really has to do with problems of brain biology.
4. This book addresses brain biology from two perspectives: factors involved in the synchronizing of regions of the brain directly involved with moral decision making, and the influence of biological conditions that indirectly affect moral decision making.
5. Unlike most books of this ilk, the author demonstrates a concern for scientific ethics.
6. Thought-provoking concepts, "According to many social scientists, agreed-upon morality came to serve as the device to use these emotions to control individual behavior. Over time, some system of rules for behavior had to prevail if a community was to prevent its own disintegration".
7. An interesting look at extreme behaviors. As an example, pathological gamblers.
8. Nature versus nurture. "Gene transmission must be followed by some 'instruction' as the child ages". Interesting.
9. Great use of scientific research to support arguments.
10. Fascinating mental illnesses. Psychopath and a malfunctioning brain.
11. The four limbic structures of the brain and their specialties: the amygdala, the hippocampus, the anterior cingulate cortex, and the hypothalamus.
12. Understanding the important role that genetics and the biology of the brain play in determining how a person reacts to situations.
13. The illusion of conscious will, always a fascinating topic. The studies supporting the argument.
14. Satisfying conclusions, "the current theory held by most evolutionary biologists is that, through a slow process of mutation over millions of years, the capacity for moral thinking, essential for survival because it provides the bases for human cooperation, became hardwired".
15. An interesting look at the differences between men and women at the neuropsychological level. Lust, attraction, and love. The role that dopamine plays in human attraction. Also an interesting difference on why the genders lie.
16. A scientific look at homosexuality..."the evidence is strong that people do not choose their sexual interests; rather, they discover their general preferences, or sexual orientation, during the onset of puberty".
17. The impact of hormones and neurotransmitters in determining sexual behavior and social bonding.
18. In short, "The brain at its most basic is designed to obtain rewards and avoid punishment". The direct correlation between the way we treat money and the nature and degree of our brain's hardwiring.
19. Structural brain abnormalities and schizophrenia. The impairment of moral competence. Interesting.
20. A serious look at ethics, "The marvels of neuroscience must be used for the good of people and humanity, not as an instrument for control".
21. A comprehensive notes section and useful glossary.
Negatives:
1. Unless I missed it, the author never formally defines morality.
2. Links did not work for Kindle.
3. No formal bibliography but many books are referenced in the notes section.
4. If you love neuroscience as much as I do, many of the studies presented in this book will be familiar to you.
In summary, what a fascinating and fun book this was. This book lived up to my expectations. The author indeed provided the latest in neuroscience and how it relates to morality. There are many fascinating studies and compelling arguments. A look at extreme behaviors, and the impact our brains have with ultimately our behaviors. Great stuff, I highly recommend it!
Further suggestions: "Subliminal" by Leonard Mlodinow, "Are You Sure?" by Ginger Campbell, "The Moral Landscape" and "Lying" by Sam Harris, "Why People Believe Weird Things" and "The Believing Brain" by Michael Shermer, "The Blank Slate" by Steven Pinker, "Who's In Charge" Michael S. Gazzaniga, "SuperSense" by Bruce Hood, "The Myth of Free Will" by Cris Evatt, "The Belief Instinct" by Jesse Bering, and "Mistakes Were Made" by Carol Tavris.
" Hardwired Behavior" is the very interesting book about the latest findings of neuroscience research and their possible effect on our understanding of humankind's moral precepts. Laurence Tancredi is interesting enough a psychiatrist-lawyer, a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine and the author of "Dangerous Diagnostics" and "When Law and Medicine Meet". This fascinating 240-page book is composed of the following twelve chapters: 1. Neuroscience and Morality, 2. Morality and the Mind, 3. Beyond the Mind Zone, 4. The Moral Brain, 5. Bad without Conscience, 6. The Biology of Choice, 7. Sex, and the Single Moral Code, 8. Brain, Biology and Sex, 9. Deception, 10. The Biology of Money, 11. The Bad and the Mad, and 12. Creating a Moral Brain.
Positives:
1. A fascinating topic in a straightforward conversational tone.
2. A very accessible book, the author does a wonderful job of keeping this book intelligible.
3. The latest in neuroscience and how morality really has to do with problems of brain biology.
4. This book addresses brain biology from two perspectives: factors involved in the synchronizing of regions of the brain directly involved with moral decision making, and the influence of biological conditions that indirectly affect moral decision making.
5. Unlike most books of this ilk, the author demonstrates a concern for scientific ethics.
6. Thought-provoking concepts, "According to many social scientists, agreed-upon morality came to serve as the device to use these emotions to control individual behavior. Over time, some system of rules for behavior had to prevail if a community was to prevent its own disintegration".
7. An interesting look at extreme behaviors. As an example, pathological gamblers.
8. Nature versus nurture. "Gene transmission must be followed by some 'instruction' as the child ages". Interesting.
9. Great use of scientific research to support arguments.
10. Fascinating mental illnesses. Psychopath and a malfunctioning brain.
11. The four limbic structures of the brain and their specialties: the amygdala, the hippocampus, the anterior cingulate cortex, and the hypothalamus.
12. Understanding the important role that genetics and the biology of the brain play in determining how a person reacts to situations.
13. The illusion of conscious will, always a fascinating topic. The studies supporting the argument.
14. Satisfying conclusions, "the current theory held by most evolutionary biologists is that, through a slow process of mutation over millions of years, the capacity for moral thinking, essential for survival because it provides the bases for human cooperation, became hardwired".
15. An interesting look at the differences between men and women at the neuropsychological level. Lust, attraction, and love. The role that dopamine plays in human attraction. Also an interesting difference on why the genders lie.
16. A scientific look at homosexuality..."the evidence is strong that people do not choose their sexual interests; rather, they discover their general preferences, or sexual orientation, during the onset of puberty".
17. The impact of hormones and neurotransmitters in determining sexual behavior and social bonding.
18. In short, "The brain at its most basic is designed to obtain rewards and avoid punishment". The direct correlation between the way we treat money and the nature and degree of our brain's hardwiring.
19. Structural brain abnormalities and schizophrenia. The impairment of moral competence. Interesting.
20. A serious look at ethics, "The marvels of neuroscience must be used for the good of people and humanity, not as an instrument for control".
21. A comprehensive notes section and useful glossary.
Negatives:
1. Unless I missed it, the author never formally defines morality.
2. Links did not work for Kindle.
3. No formal bibliography but many books are referenced in the notes section.
4. If you love neuroscience as much as I do, many of the studies presented in this book will be familiar to you.
In summary, what a fascinating and fun book this was. This book lived up to my expectations. The author indeed provided the latest in neuroscience and how it relates to morality. There are many fascinating studies and compelling arguments. A look at extreme behaviors, and the impact our brains have with ultimately our behaviors. Great stuff, I highly recommend it!
Further suggestions: "Subliminal" by Leonard Mlodinow, "Are You Sure?" by Ginger Campbell, "The Moral Landscape" and "Lying" by Sam Harris, "Why People Believe Weird Things" and "The Believing Brain" by Michael Shermer, "The Blank Slate" by Steven Pinker, "Who's In Charge" Michael S. Gazzaniga, "SuperSense" by Bruce Hood, "The Myth of Free Will" by Cris Evatt, "The Belief Instinct" by Jesse Bering, and "Mistakes Were Made" by Carol Tavris.
December 13, 2013
Nature or Nurture?
Tancredi projects that by 2100 the major mysteries of the brain will be solved. He presents what is known to date. Research points to a person's moral determinism seated in the composition of the brain. While biology holds sway, nurture has a role. Connections can be built or strengthened through experience, practice or learning.
The author illustrates this research with examples from his clinical practice. If the areas of the brain that supply the emotions of compassion and guilt cannot be accessed, other passions may rule unchecked. Risk takers do not store and/or access information on past consequences, those we call accident prone are fated to be so because they (chemically) cannot learn from past mistakes and criminals do not see the lines they are crossing.
In the future, will this science be used to absolve all guilt? When sources of addiction are uncovered will we have an addiction free society? Will the brain chemistry be altered for prevention and/or rehabilitation? Voluntarily? Involuntarily?
This book gives an overview of what science is finding in how the brain prescribes the moral lives of individuals. Hopefully a society will evolve a proper ethical framework to deal with it and can keep ahead of the science.
Tancredi projects that by 2100 the major mysteries of the brain will be solved. He presents what is known to date. Research points to a person's moral determinism seated in the composition of the brain. While biology holds sway, nurture has a role. Connections can be built or strengthened through experience, practice or learning.
The author illustrates this research with examples from his clinical practice. If the areas of the brain that supply the emotions of compassion and guilt cannot be accessed, other passions may rule unchecked. Risk takers do not store and/or access information on past consequences, those we call accident prone are fated to be so because they (chemically) cannot learn from past mistakes and criminals do not see the lines they are crossing.
In the future, will this science be used to absolve all guilt? When sources of addiction are uncovered will we have an addiction free society? Will the brain chemistry be altered for prevention and/or rehabilitation? Voluntarily? Involuntarily?
This book gives an overview of what science is finding in how the brain prescribes the moral lives of individuals. Hopefully a society will evolve a proper ethical framework to deal with it and can keep ahead of the science.
December 25, 2015
Did not have too much of expectations but this turned out to be a surprisingly good book. The key question of morality and whether the brain is hardwired due to biological reason is addressed with aplomb. The case studies though gruesome, hit the nail on the head. Excellent eye opener on the behaviour of our brain.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews