Human nature doesn’t rewire

In The Laws of Human Nature, Robert Greene opens his chapter on conformity with a story from Born Red, Gao Yuan’s memoir of the Cultural Revolution. Gao was a 14-year-old at Yizhen Number One Middle School when it began. Following Chairman Mao’s call, students became Red Guards and took over the school. They held mass rallies against their teachers, and some were driven to suicide. Then the students then split into two factions, and the school and town turned into armed camps. It started with a goal that sounded noble: rooting out corruption. Red Guard armbands were coveted, and wearing one carried status. An older friend and mentor named Fangpu pulled Gao in. The students suddenly had the power to attack their teachers and skip school without consequence. The rallies against teachers grew into marches through the streets with chants and jeers, and eventually organized torture and violence. The early victories felt exhilarating. Then the movement fractured into two armed factions, and…

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