Researchers find that Chinese from rice growing southern regions are more "holistic and interdependent." Those from wheat growing northern regions are more "analytic and individualistic." See the story in Science. Something the story doesn't mention is that northern Chinese tend to be taller, also related to diet one supposes.
Of course, people from different regions of the U.S. have different attitudes as well. No question that people in the Southeast are more actively religious than average. Does anybody want to blame hot weather? How about the eating of grits or black-eyed peas?
Occasionally I read a correlational study like this one and wonder if the things found to covary are in fact unrelated, mere coincidence? I cannot imagine that a fondness for black-eyed peas and corn bread makes one religious, or vice versa. Simple coincidence.
