Michael’s Reviews > Man's Most Dangerous Myth: The Fallacy of Race > Status Update

‘In short, history teaches us that there is no inherent tendency in any human group that distinguishes it from any other to develop from a state of “barbarism” to a state of “high culture.”’

‘All normal human beings are born as culturally undifferentiated organisms; they become culturally differentiated according to the social group into which they happen to be born.’

A study on white children kidnapped by Native Americans and adopted into the culture.

‘[…] The fact that differences in behaviour between such groups obviously exist, is no proof that they exist because they are inborn.’

Quoted by Montagu: ‘This does not mean that heredity plays no part in the determination of behavior. On the contrary, there is good evidence that “individuals” and “families” may be distinguished from others in terms of heredity as well as acquired characteristics. As regards large racial groups, however, there appears to be about the same range of hereditary capacities in one group as in another. […]

‘The individual is a unique entity and should never be regarded as someone describable as a statistical constant. The reverse practice is equally reprehensible, of attributing to a whole group or population traits, whether physical or psychological, that are seen in an individual.’

‘Furthermore, the common practice of attributing to individuals traits derived statistically from population studies is as deplorable as it is absurd.’

The characteristics of a prejudiced type.

The characteristics of the object of hatred are either resented because they are subconsciously acknowledged to be identical to one's own characteristics; or they are resented because they show the characteristics one most admired, which one wished one had even after surrendering one's self to the group.

The psychology of prejudice and antisemitism.