The thesis of Secret of Our Success (summary and review by Scott Alexander here) is that adaptive habits discovered by accident and passed down through generations account for the majority of human behavior; it has dozens of specific examples including taboos, food preparation, etc. In highly traditional cultures people may never question these habits. When Tukanoan women asked why they spend multiple hours a day processing manioc that tastes fine when only boiled, they would simply say it’s their custom rather than appealing to reason or myth. (It actually reduces cyanide that would otherwise cause chronic poisoning.) Note that I may be conflating examples here.
The thesis of Secret of Our Success (summary and review by Scott Alexander here) is that adaptive habits discovered by accident and passed down through generations account for the majority of human behavior; it has dozens of specific examples including taboos, food preparation, etc. In highly traditional cultures people may never question these habits. When Tukanoan women asked why they spend multiple hours a day processing manioc that tastes fine when only boiled, they would simply say it’s their custom rather than appealing to reason or myth. (It actually reduces cyanide that would otherwise cause chronic poisoning.) Note that I may be conflating examples here.