The brain’s main function becomes making instinctive choices aimed at survival.

However, human nature encompasses both instinctive drives and higher moral capacities.

The prefrontal cortex may be what makes us more human.

The harsh conditions and subsequent stress may shape behaviors now considered selfish or aggressive.

Many countries and regions are affected by war, violence, and social unrest in the world. These regions typically also face extremely serious living and economic conditions. Conversely, in richer nations with more favorable conditions, people adhere more closely to ethical standards, the law, and human principles. A prime example is the countries of Northern Europe, which experience lower rates of crime and political unrest than many other nations and consistently rank among the happiest in the world [1]. It is striking that these countries, due to harsh climatic conditions and difficult access to resources, have at times had a history marked entirely by war, violence, and malevolence.

Dual nature of humans

The dual nature of human beings has been a subject of religion, mysticism, philosophy, and ethics throughout history. These schools of thought have acknowledged an animalistic dimension—characterized by malice, selfishness, deceit, envy, violence, and greed—alongside a dimension that aspires toward transcendence, defined by generosity, kindness, and self-sacrifice. At times, individuals may even surrender their own lives—the most fundamental instinct of all living creatures—for others or higher values. Religious traditions attribute the root of this duality to the unique creation of the human species. From this perspective, humans, like other animals, possess a physical body rooted in the Earth, driven by an instinctive desire for survival and a craving to secure greater access to food, water, and warm, safe shelter protected from predators.

The lives of our ancestors were largely spent in harsh and unforgiving environments, where survival was naturally the main priority. This response is also observed in many........

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