Steven J. Heine

Steven J. Heine, PhD, is a Professor of Psychology at the University of British Columbia. He is a leading figure in the field of cultural psychology, famous for his research on "WEIRD" people (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic). Heine studies how culture shapes our basic cognitive processes and self-perception.\n\nHe is the author of DNA Is Not Destiny: The Remarkable, Completely Misunderstood Relationship between You and Your Genes. Heine tackles the rise of direct-to-consumer genetic testing (like 23andMe). He argues that society has developed a dangerous "essentialist" bias, believing that genes determine everything from intelligence to infidelity. His work debunks these myths, explaining the complex interaction between genetics and environment (epigenetics) to restore a sense of agency.