You have to remember that the neo-Marxist progressives are interspersed with Rousseauians, in that they believe that mankind is naturally good and that it is society that has corrupted it.
This “noble savage” theory has been disproven time and time again, but the social “scientists” keep returning to it like dogs return to vomit.
Well these particular social scientists don’t buy into it. The reporter included the idea in the story. I wonder how many social scientists still believe in it.