Are we hardwired to commit ‘deadly sins’?

Science Weekly

The Guardian

Science

4.2 • 938 Ratings

🗓️ 7 January 2025

⏱️ 23 minutes

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Summary

Scientists are increasingly finding that behaviours once seen as depraved often have a direct physical cause. To find out more, Ian Sample hears from Guy Leschziner, a consultant neurologist and sleep physician at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital in London. His new book, Seven Deadly Sins: The Biology of Being Human, looks at the neurological basis of behaviours often dismissed as evidence of bad character or lack of willpower. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod

Transcript

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1:18.1	Over the festive period, you might have indulged in a sin or two.
1:21.6	Being envious of your cousin's new jumper,
1:23.7	fighting over a board game,
1:26.9	spending all day on the sofa eating chocolates, locking lips with someone inappropriate on
1:29.9	the dance floor on New Year's Eve. We all have our particular transgressions, even professors
1:38.2	and consultant neurologists. I've come to the conclusion that I'm actually quite intrinsically lazy.
	...

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