Why Do We Do That? 

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Ella Al-Shamahi investigates the origins of everyday human habits and behaviour.

An anthropologist's guide to the modern world. Ella Al-Shamahi investigates the origins of everyday human habits and behaviour.

Why Do We Do That? An anthropologist's guide to the modern world.

There are lots of everyday things which, when you think about them, are pretty weird. Like kissing, doomscrolling and sitting down to go to the loo. Social media may tell you to blame the latest influencer who went viral. Your therapist might tell you to blame your parents. But palaeoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi is here to tell you to blame your great, great, great, great, great, etc. grandparents. For some stuff at least. In this series, Ella is joined by some wonderful guests to dive into the cultural, historical and evolutionary story of everyday human habits and behaviour.

Photo: Sarah Cresswell / The Times / News Licensing

BBC Radio 4 LW

Why Do We Do That?: Why Doesn't Everyone Clear Up?

Why Doesn't Everyone Clear Up?

BBC Radio 4 - Why Do We Do That?, Why Doesn't Everyone Clear Up?

That messy person, who doesn’t pull their weight around the house - why people, why?

Ella investigates those free riders who just don’t pull their weight around the house - is it just laziness or is there some deep-wired evolutionary reason at work here?

It’s a familiar problem with any shared household - there’s always someone who doesn’t do their fair share.  Studies have shown that when people with different thresholds live together, the person with the lower tolerance for mess cleans up more, quickly leading to resentment and conflict.  So why do some people clean up more than others?  What needs to happen for everyone to pull their weight?  Evolutionary science has some answers.  Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to Dr Nichola Raihani, Professor of Evolution and Behaviour from University College London, to find out about free riders, cheaters and public goods, and how evolutionary scientists view cooperation challenges.  Great British Bake Off star Michael Chakraverty shares his own anecdotes of untidy flatmates and failed attempts to enhance cooperation.

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

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