Urban WEIRD[0] weasels trying to understand normal humans really is something to see. It's as if they're studying some bizarre carnivorous plant or cannibalistic space aliens from the Planet Koozebane.
"Such rugged terrain likely favored those who closely guarded their resources and distrusted strangers, as well as those who engaged in risky explorations to secure food and territory."
I'm pretty sure New Yorkers or San Francisco residents are more likely to distrust strangers and not share than mountain people.
"These traits may have distilled over time into an individualism characterized by toughness and self-reliance that lies at the heart of the American frontier ethos"
Yeah, or the fact that the guy who lives in the mountains can't call the building superintendent to change his lightbulb might have something to do with them having slightly more self reliance. I didn't grow up in the mountains, but I did grow up poor: it has much the same effect.
"Such rugged terrain likely favored those who closely guarded their resources and distrusted strangers, as well as those who engaged in risky explorations to secure food and territory."
I'm pretty sure New Yorkers or San Francisco residents are more likely to distrust strangers and not share than mountain people.
"These traits may have distilled over time into an individualism characterized by toughness and self-reliance that lies at the heart of the American frontier ethos"
Yeah, or the fact that the guy who lives in the mountains can't call the building superintendent to change his lightbulb might have something to do with them having slightly more self reliance. I didn't grow up in the mountains, but I did grow up poor: it has much the same effect.
[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychology#WEIRD_bias