How to Improve the Human Mindset

Abstract

Modern societies are challenged by a range of problems; most, if not all, are aggravated by the way people behave. Our minds are shaped by the combined effect of genes and environment. Of these two, the only practical option for modifying behavior is to adjust the impact of the environment. All communities try to mold their members; thus, the question is not _whether_ we should attempt to form the brains of future generations, but _how_ to optimize the outcome. In this review, I discuss desirable features, brain plasticity, and strategies for enhancing society by tweaking the mindset, and thus the behavioral propensities, of the population.