The romanticized notion that humans are naturally selfless and peaceful, and that greed or violence are purely "corruptions" of society.

The fear that we aren't responsible for our actions. The Reality of Human Nature

Pinker suggests we cling to these myths out of fear. If we admit that certain traits—like intelligence, aggression, or personality—have a genetic component, people worry it will lead to:

The fear that if we are "wired" a certain way, we can’t improve society.