Can a Better Understanding of Human Biology Help Create a Better Society?
When we look at society, we see social problems that are difficult to address through social work or politics alone. Aggression and apparently senseless violence continue to cause concern. Football hooliganism, vandalism, and other forms of destructive behaviour sometimes seem almost impossible to prevent.
This book examines an important foundation of human behaviour that is often overlooked: the influence of biological processes. Our behaviour is shaped not only by upbringing, culture, and personal experience, but also by factors such as genetics, brain development, neurotransmitters, hormones, nutrition, and environmental conditions.
Could a better understanding of these biological influences help us understand one another, prevent harmful behaviour, and contribute to a more peaceful society? This book and the website human-DNA.org explore that question.
During recent decades, research into DNA, neuroscience, biochemistry, and biological psychology has developed rapidly. This growing body of knowledge forms the scientific basis of the book and this website. Particular attention is given to the ways in which neurotransmitters and hormones influence emotions, motivation, decision-making, aggression, attachment, and other aspects of human behaviour.
The aim is not to suggest that biology completely determines what people do. Human behaviour results from a complex interaction between biology, personal experience, social circumstances, culture, and conscious choice. Greater biological understanding can nevertheless help us interpret behaviour with more knowledge, compassion, and acceptance.
Part of the book’s content is available on this website.
About the Book
The book How to Change Our Human Nature explains how neurotransmitters, hormones, and other biological processes contribute to human behaviour. It also discusses approaches that may help people influence their behaviour and improve their physical, psychological, and social well-being.
The book is available through Lulu.com as an eBook and as a printed edition. Both versions contain the same main content. The eBook is less expensive and includes clickable links to internet sources.
Because online information changes and webpages may be moved or removed, some links in the book may eventually stop working. This website therefore provides an updated list of the sources and links referred to in the book.
The revision presents biology as an important influence rather than the sole cause of behaviour, which makes the introduction scientifically stronger and less open to criticism.
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English: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19944824
Dutch: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14597972