The Rice Theory of Culture | Thomas Talhelm | TEDxUVA

During his time in China, graduate student Thomas Talhelm found distinct differences in comportment and mindset between peoples in the North and South... but what caused these cultural differences? In his Talk, Talhelm asserts that the staple crops grown in these respective regions have affected community cultures and perceptions of self for millennia.

Thomas Talhelm is a PhD candidate in Social Psychology at the University of Virginia, where he studies how culture affects the way we behave. Talhelm recently returned from a Fulbright research project and an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship in China. He is also the founder of Smart Air, a social enterprise to help China combat pollution and breathe cleaner air.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx