Are Humans Hardwired to Be Cruel to Each Other? | Robert Sapolsky | Big Think
Are Humans Hardwired to Be Cruel to Each Other?
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Our implicit biases are rooted in biology, but they can be easily manipulated. That's both really good and really bad.Robert Sapolsky has a bone to pick with oxytocin, or rather the public's perception of oxytocin. It is the love hormone, we've surely all read by now. It helps us bond to our parents, then to our lovers and later to our own children. An extra dose can increase empathy, goodwill, and understanding. But it's not all sunshine and rainbows, here's the catch: those warm fuzzy feelings are only generated for people you already favor. Oxytocin, represented more honestly, is the hormone of love and violence. Its effect in the presence of people you consider "others" is preemptive aggression, and less social cooperation. It creates distance as often as it bonds love, and we are hardwired for those social dichotomies.
Humans invent "Us" and "Them" groups wherever they look, whether it's on the basis of sex, race, nationality, class, age, religion, hair color-there's nothing we won't discriminate against, and we do it within a twentieth of a second of seeing someone. Are they an "Us" or are they a "Them"? The flaw in this hardwired thinking reflex is also its silver lining: it is ridiculously easy to manipulate. A racial bias can be duped by something so simple as putting a cap with your favorite sports team's logo on someone's head, for example. You can overthrow your brain's most primal reactions in this way but, as history shows, other people can also get in your head and manipulate the Us versus Them reflex to tragic and catastrophic results.
Robert Sapolsky is the author of Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst.
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ROBERT M SAPOLSKY :
Robert M. Sapolsky holds degrees from Harvard and Rockefeller Universities and is currently a Professor of Biology and Neurology at Stanford University and a Research Associate with the Institute of Primate Research, National Museums of Kenya. His most recent book is Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst.
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TRANSCRIPT:
Robert Sapolsky: So when you look at us-us as humans, as apes, as primates, as mammals-when you look at some of the most appalling realms of our behavior, much of it has to do with the fact that social organisms are really, really hardwired to make a basic dichotomy about the social world, which is those organisms who count as Us’s and those who count as Thems.
And this is virtually universal among humans and this is virtually universal among all sorts of social primates that have aspects of social structures built around separate social groupings. Us’s and Thems: we turn the world into Us’s and Thems and we don’t like the Thems very much and are often really awful to them. And the Us’s, we exaggerate how wonderful and how generous and how affiliative and how just like siblings they are to us. We divide the world into Us and Them.
And one of the greatest ways of seeing just biologically how real this fault line is, is there’s this hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin is officially the coolest, grooviest hormone on earth, because what everybody knows is it enhances mother-infant bonding and it enhances pair bonding in couples. And it makes you more trusting and empathic and emotionally expressive and better at reading expressions and more charitable. And it’s obvious that if you just, like, spritzed oxytocin up everyone’s noses on this planet it would be the Garden of Eden the next day.
Oxytocin promotes prosocial behavior. Until people look closely. And it turns out oxytocin does all those wondrous things only for people who you think of as an “Us”, as an in-group member. It improves in-group favoritism, in-group parochialism.
What does it do to individuals who you consider a Them? It makes you crappier to them, more preemptively aggressive, less cooperative in an economic game. What oxytocin does is enhance this Us/Them divide. So that, along with other findings-the classic lines of Us versus Them along the lines of race, of sex, of age, of socioeconomic class: your brain processes these Us/Them differences on the scale of milliseconds, a twentieth of a second, your brain is already responding differently to an Us versus Them.
For the full transcript, check out bigthink.com/videos/robert-sa...
The "us and them" point he makes is very important in the subject of human behavior. Hunter gatherer communities have little to no signs of rape, murder, theft, etc because they see each other as a unified social order and literally need each other to survive. If you compare this to the industrialized world where every country is at war with itself, where everyone inside it are competing for a higher rank in the socioeconomic order-you'll realize why humans behave the way they do. Especially when the economic systems worldwide are in decline for the lower half of the population. Chaotic behavior is to be expected.
Doesn't help that the prevailing economic model of free-market capitalism plays right into this bias. The lower and middle classes literally compete with each other for jobs and limited resources, and the wealthy compete for the work of the lower classes and excess wealth. It not only promotes class and racial divisions, but also a clusterfuck of backstabbing and paranoia between and among all these groups of people. Not exactly a system conducive to compassion/empathy for the "other".
ed smith My comment had nothing to do with socialism, actually. I typed it to provoke people's thoughts on human behavior. Analyzing a problem has nothing to do with how you propose to solve it. They are two totally separate categories. You definitely can't "force" a system like socialism onto people, I definitely agree with that. Any systemic change needs to happen naturally and free of regime. But being optimistic about it, I do believe that with the development of future technology there could be systems that "reinforce" the natural behaviors of humans. Opposed to our current world where most countries live in poverty and all of the "modernized" countries consist of depressed people being squeezed by a collapsing labor market and the result is an increase in overall violence, drug use, rates of depression/anxiety, etc. There was a study done at Notre Dame that showed that the most healthy environment for child development is within a money-less and non-competitive hunter gatherer society. This doesn't mean that we should all take our shoes off and go live in the woods. But it gives you good contrast when experimenting the relationship between human behavior and the socioeconomic system that's in place.
Derek- He was probably replying to me. Ed smith - read up on Leftist economic theory. Your preconceived notion of "capitalism is voluntary" and "socialism is tyranny" is not only false, it shows a basic lack of understanding of economic/social theory. There have been many economic systems throughout history - Communal tribalism, feudalism, free-market capitalism, state capitalism, socialism, anarchism, and many more have been proposed. Free-market capitalism is just another one of these, and it's the one with the most mass-production. However, it's also possibly the one with the least fostering of human empathy, even within "tribes" or "groups", because of the competition inherent in every part of it. "Socialism" may, according to you, try to force people to be compassionate, but my point was that capitalism forces people to be vicious and cutthroat because of its social darwinist markets and competition, which require others to tread on their fellow man to get ahead, feed themselves, and secure their future for their families. And I never said anything about socialism. I critiqued capitalism. For all you know, I could be a Monarchist, or a feudalist. Or an anarchist.
"capitalism divides power" No. Capitalism centralizes power in the hands of a small aristocratic elite. Trump is still a member of the ruling class, despite other ruling-class people disliking him. His interests are the same as those of the rest of the elite, and this can already be seen in his imperialist actions in Syria, Somalia and Afghanistan, his recruitment of bankers, Wall Street people, and billionaires into his cabinet, and his favoritism for large corporations at the expense of the working class and the poor. "Socialism is where the powerful become rich" Not unless by socialism you mean Marxism-Leninism, or whatever the fuck they have going on in China (Some kind of heavily regulated State capitalism that, oddly enough, seems to be doing better than the free-market kind). Every other socialist or anarchist economic theory is specifically designed so this does not happen. That's actually the point of Anarchism and Marxism both: to reduce social and political inequality by democratizing production/the economy.
Derek what about selfishness? that seems to drive fookin everything
Well ain't that a kick in the butt, the same oxycontin that makes us love also makes us more tribal by enhancing the us/them dichotomy. Thanks for that nugget, now I see why we humans are seriously fucked up. Fascinating.
We are only so tribal to the extent of our understanding. Essentially, the point of the Proffessor is that oxytocin is that only man struggles with oxytocin to the extent that we do: For the sake of survival in a wide environment with many foes, a social organization of animals must develop a special connection between its members to imbue them with care for one another. While this can cause conflict between two different animals, or even between two groups of the same animal, on the while it improves the survival as a unit of a certain species. Chimpanzees, for example, slay one another brutally in conflict between groups, but usually restrict this treatment to other groups save in extraordinary circumstances. The issue with mankind is that our survival method of banding together beyond the range of our close kin and friends, for mutual benefit, has come to clash with more engrained and instinctive processes: Essentially, Man is the only animal which has expanded the scope of its unity between whole populations, and in modern days we have begun to desire a world in which the entire human species is united in like fashion. This would be harmless and ideal, if the average human could understand, beyond its own needs and investments, the ultimate homogeneity of all life on Earth-- the fact that everything that breathes ultimately shares a desire to exist, survive, and eventually reproduce- and thus to apply communal care to all life on Earth; in essence, spreading its use of oxytocin. It is unwise and morally dangerous (as well as physically impossible) to reject the hardwired traits of oxytocin altogether, for if we hope to remain a semi-civilized species, maintain our interpersonal relationships, and build emotionally healthy lives, we require its instinctive effects in the form of the emotions upon which humans heavily rely. The key for mankind is rather to educate its average members (not only its elite, but also its common specimens and families) to expand their care (and thus their application of oxytocin) beyond their small selves, families, communities, and cultures-- not to compromise those equally important relationships, but rather to incorporate others into them-- and finally to share some form of common ground between all types of human being divided by all scientific perceptions of difference (race, age, gender, physical ability, or preferences). Unfortunately, such a Messianic, idyllic, and harmonious philosophy has only existed in myth or fiction-- man's yearning dream for what he might be, incarnated in the form of such mythical species as the Elves of Scandinavian and modern legend, the gods of certain religions and the gurus of others. At the end of all argument, man can only acknowledge that he too is an animal, and has the choice either of advancing his simple animal mindset to universal applications, or simply of using it for his own ultimate profit. It seems that we have long clung to the latter as our philosophy. It may be advisable to reverse this.
👍 The key is to recognize how easily we can be manipulated. Awareness helps to not letting it happen and videos like this do a tremendous job in creating this awareness. 🤝
What a positive outlook on these depressing facts
And ice work together above the board withbthe goal of connecting, communicating and cooperatingvgirceach other's health and well being, we can purposely construct incentives of global community. One day, when equity allows more consistent experience of the world by humans
More *real* talk with Robert Sapolsky. Love this guy, and I wish more people thought like this.
Glenn Sandberg Excuse me?
Serah Wint I get it... you were referring to the thought process of Robert Sapolsky rather than the subject he has touched on. Glenn Sandberg would clearly push you in front of the trolley if he had the chance.
Without the attitude what glenn was trying to say is Robert sapolsky is a scientist. All of his ideas are tested and proven through the scientific method. So they are facts that can't be changed based on unsupported opinion.
Without addictions, whatever form they take, humans would be forced to euthanize ourselves. I've tried to be extremely pure and ascetic for years and I'm the most miserable and sensitive I've ever been. Indulgences and addictions are necessary to cope with an inherently disgusting existence. Just cycle out your addictions every so often so you can go through phases with different perspectives, checks and balances
amen
People even divide between weak and strong, normal and weird, healthy vs unhealthy (mental or physical), socially suave vs socially awkward, attractive vs unattractive, cognitively competent vs incompetent (mind or job task). Sad thing is, we've had the answers for thousands of years, even via secular philosophy (Don't hurt, harm, or demean others nondefensively). But we never even think to implement them. After this many years, it's pretty obvious we'll never be able to truly convince via their hearts and minds that "they" don't deserve shitting on. The rest? Only threats of severe social sanction will keep us half-behaved.
> Only threats of severe social sanction will keep us half-behaved. Complying under threat of violence isn't ... half-behaved? Never heard that. I assume you mean that 'half-behaved' is inferior to 'well-behaved'?
It's important to be aware of psychological concepts like this so you can compensate accordingly.
Yes, rather than trying to pretend we're something we're not, mitigate our expectations and policies to accommodate and allow for how we are. Use the momentum of our nature to create "forward movement" within plausible parameters, rather than wasting energy (and causing immense suffering!) by resisting that momentum.
Can't change what you're unaware of.
Not Sure I wish it were that simple for everyone but I can't help but direct the new knowledge inwards destructively
i wonder how it could be incorporated into AI programs. Possibly use it to get more votes.
Yes 👍
I found this video because I’ve recently become interested in medieval history and how and why the were so cruel to each other with all the torture they, it just stuns me how people could do that to each other, even today people just do absolute awful things to others,
We haven't changed since then...
tribal by nature. we are always looking to exclude someone that is different from ourselves. race is at the forefront bc its an obvious difference you can recognize from across the room without even having a conversation with a person or getting to know them to learn those differences
jason jason no such thing as a race.
Michael Sherwin but the term exists in society to categorize physical characteristics so to make a point on differences its used to make my point
Michael Sherwin The idea that there is no such thing as race is a weaponized meme that will eventually kill more people than any "rayciss" ever has.
@Asterik cAde If you equate liberalism and communism as the same thing, then you're already lost...
Because people are ignorant, that's why
This is very sad. I've always hated the idea that we need to create acceptance by making everyone seem more similar to each other. And I've always said that we don't need to pretend like differences between people don't exist; we need to celebrate them because they're good things, and in order to celebrate something, you have to acknowledge it first. But if this oxytocin thing is true, maybe that'll never happen, and the "It's the same picture," people will win out someday. That isn't a future I want to live to see.
I do feel like there's a growing population that don't really categorize people on surface-level things, thanks to remote interaction, so that the dichotomy of us vs them is going to look insanely different in 25-50 years. I especially feel that in my generation, few people really judge on appearances and it's a lot more interest, status, or lifestyle based discrimination. So the appearances and makeup of the "in-groups" and "out-groups" seem like they're changing. Whether this change really "changes" anything or if it's even a good change is yet to be seen.
You cannot escape your biology.
I’m a simple man. I see the words Robert Sapolsky, I subsequently click
You're an us 😆
agree! sapolsky is the best!
Not wise for any mind beyond your own, if what the professor says is true, but very well.
I don't know, women's pole-voting seems more interesting...
He's still great
Yes. The human ego is a terrible thing. Narcissism is rewarded. And only some humans have the empathy gene.
0:01 I'm not sure the "Hope & Optimism" title card was very accurate for this one...
my brain immediately recognizes anyone with a beard as an "us"
exactly as I was thinking
haha I like that
Subtle Bubble Then you back the entire upper hierarchy of IS o:
Subtle Bubble It is a nice beard.
You do not have the correct personality for happy relationships with women. Too bad you're not gay. Maybe you should be.
Another school shooting today. My friends 14 year old son hung himself this morning. His dad died of suicide due to a brain tumor. I take care of my grandma who lost her husband of 57 years last year. 18 months sober from heroin and benzos and I just hate humans so much. We all want the same thing and yet we just make this world a living hell.
What I gather from this is everything has a duality, and denying or shaming opposition is vain. Opposition, conflict, these are inevitable.
Well.. that's some amazing insight I got here. I already know we are hardwired to be cruel (I get this conclusion from history), but it's really a new insight that love (oxytocin) is the cause of them. Thank you so much Sapolsky :)
@Shimmy Shai so interesting. That love can't exist without hate. I know this subconsciously but this gives me more insight onto these feelings.
love isn't only Oxytocin, love is a cocktail of Oxytocin, Dopamine, Serotonin and endorphines and other "feel good" neurotransmitters that double as hormones.
We're hardwired to seek advantage over our environment, while avoiding disadvantage. Once we do that, we have more time to seek advantage over each other. Every human interaction revoles around the desire for advantage as well as avoiding disadvantage. This is inherent in all organisms and is necessary for evolutionary growth.
But the irony is humans make disadvantages for each other, trying to gain advantages. For eg. Mass shooters. Removing the social ostracisation and bullying you remove the consequences. By struggling for advantages, you create disadvantages.
@@user-ci7xz5vt1d THAT Is correct. We have always had this instinct to gain advantage and avoid disadvantage. We are programmed to constantly seek advantage - which is why we get bored after every advantage we gain. We are programmed to have only short periods of "satisfaction". We compete with each other - not for money, power, and fame - but for the feelings that go with them. These feelings are achieved when we have successfully gained advantages. But we often only associate the gaining of advantages with competing with others. And we associate winning with "winners" and losing with "losers" -so that winning "feels" good and losing "feels" bad. We could be achieving those same feelings of advantage by competing for money, power, and fame - thru our value to as many people as possible. A prime example is Mr.Beast - who is doing a great deal of good works all over the world. But even without access to huge amounts of money, we can compete with each other by reputation alone. Being a reliable, trustworthy person is not always easy, but it's definately the easiest way to find others who can help in making hard things easier. We've already overcome so much. We have enough food, shelter, clean water,etc. It's time for us to accept that we seek advantage and use this instinct together to make our grandkids happy and proud. We must examine our instincts, especially the negative ones, and tweek our own programming. When the environment around you is healthy and vibrant, you are advantaged. When it is dirty and dangerous, you are disadvantaged. Giving others advantages thru your actions, does not disadvantage you. Instead, it offers others the "feelings" of gaining advantage with the help of another. And it reinforces the idea that a person can gain all kinds of advantage - without creating disadvantages for anyone else. These feelings are important to understand, so that actions follow easily. We are human. We operate thru the instincts of a human. It's time we started choosing HOW we respond to our own programming.
Reminds me of college. Wonderful content, thanks for sharing.
Really well-spoken man.
Thanks to Big Think for bringing one of the great explainers Dr. Sapolsky. I want to see more of his videos.
I could listen to this man for hours. Thank-you for your hard work and insight.
Ok now big think needs to give Dr. Sapolsky his own dedicated big think lecture series. The big is back in big think.
I mean. I know we're a bunch of atoms. But our atoms have become so complex we start having a consciousness to hate each other. Help each other. Argue each other. And also. Care for each other. It's like we were never ment to be. I have a feeling we were supposed to be something else.
There isn't enough Sapolsky in this world. Thank you for this
I've actually thought about this very often. Instant click.
INFINITF2 me too, haha nearly just like everyday :)
people with ethnically similar names are more likely to be carrying the same genes. this is less true now in large societies with bigger gene pools as opposed to a small populated nomadic tribe where any member would contain a significant fraction of your genes. we've only lived in larger modern societies for a tiny percentage of our species existence. took millions of years for our genes to create the evolutionary survival strategies that they formed and it'll take just as long to get rid of them if we dont wipe outselves out in a big war. or mass starvation occurs because of exponential population growth where those survival genes will come in handy, who knows.
INFINITF2 me to man.
INFINITF2 same
You're not the only one. I've been wondering this for awhile.
from my point of view its always everyone versus me.
Parakmi I 1 us and 7 billion thems makes for a bad time, all the time
The price to pay when you can't find any thems to consider as us. But in the end its always 1 us vs 7 billion thems, because people tend to consider us the most popular or strong with the underlying purpose to make the 1 us a bit stronger against the 7 billion thems.
Parakmi I same.
Parakmi I Very true. This reminds me of ancient spiritual teachings. Like the whole, "we're all one, man." if you alter your perspective so that there's no them but everybody is an us, then regardless of mystical lingo, we would just treat everybody better.
I will not call this comment phychopathic, but.
loved his lecture about Depression in youtube
on* youtube
Thank you so much! Been on my mind a lot the last half year
Honestly ive always been a them. Still figuring out if its a blessing or a curse
Big think is a pretty good channel. One of the ones I enjoy the most on KZhead even. But there is something that could make it better. I'd really like to have in the scroll, after the transcript maybe, maybe some further reading links? Like in this case a link to the study that Robert is discussing where Oxytocin helps increase the us/them divide. (the trolley problem example..) References! :)
So true and so sad.
we humans need to evolve more I definitely feel like we still have primitive characteristics and they way our brains work need fine tuning
It is miserable and disturbing how our behavior is not rapidly changing and evolving.
Eugenics. But who decides what is acceptable and what isn't? The last I checked we're not in charge of anything.
Blame the parents who's nonsensical idea is to breed these infantile newborns onto our sphere making it a very disingenuous utopia.
@@EnaTenkiyoGamer yeah parents make situation worse. I mean here so many people around already and resources limited here already many creatures which suffer because of no food and i am not saying about just socially dangerous people as psychopaths, sociopaths, maniacs, narcissists
I'm obviously lacking in oxytocin. I've never felt a bond with anyone, and I don't crap myself every time I encounter people different from the norm.
I'm also lacking in oxytocin. Although, after reading this comment, I think I just got a hit of it.
hugs Catherine :)
I think all emotions are built on the same platform so if you increase one, you increase the other. I think most things in life have an inverse proportion
So in other words my enemies enjoy thinking I’m the enemy so much they will never stop wanting to hate me no matter what I do because I give them someone to hate and blame,I had a feeling that was the case ,I’ve noticed a few people enjoy hating me so much they come around and make themselves miserable for no reason,I didn’t understand that behavior but I see it so often that I couldn’t understand why people that showed they hated me wanted to get the closest to me,I was confused but it’s an addiction,it’s a hit of something you think is the best juice of life,but the problem is you can get addicted to happiness too,it takes more than a year to kick depressing addiction,I’ve been trying to get along with everyone that comes around but I get it now,it’s a fix ,we can really get addicted to drama and I know because I was and it turned me into a demon,happiness can be addictive too and powerful but you must stop hating because it’s an addiction,once you start forcing yourself to be loving,it will get weird but after a while you get addicted and happiness isn’t at others coast it’s made from the inside,it’s more powerful and I want to show the world our way isn’t the only way ,it’s just the way we have been doing it,everything he said is true,but it can be changed and reprogrammed,we choose what’s right and wrong ,we have the power to stop hatred with ourselves that’s what I’ve learned,I don’t have to give the world what the world gives me I can change my ways and people change when they see that,our actions inspire people I know that for a fact! People want change that’s why I’m bringing it,I didn’t ask to do this I think people want a different world and I was dumb enough to take this on so remember I was picked to fix this,never asked for it .
I share the same thoughts. The easy route is just to blame their bad treatment of you on jealousy. But how?! People have more money, social status, relationships, etc than me! It’s not jealousy. It’s exactly what you said, people just want someone to hate. The people who hate me the most are always on my phone, inviting me out. I’m not the only person they know, so why only call me? If i reject their proposal they get mad. I also slightly think people want to keep tabs on you. Because as they age they will need you for more favors. It may not always be about jealousy, but money is always an influencing factor. You don’t even need to block people. Just deny them money. Even if they don’t ask for money outright, don’t give them free rides, let them stay with you for free. Cancel out all service based actions. Like a ghost they’ll be gone. It’s all about survivalism and resources.
We r terrible. Im talking about all of us. We all get mad ,jealous , greedy ,horny and fed up of lfe. May god bless us all! We r all in the struggle!
fascinating stuff
That’s actually kind of scary to know someone is working on the reason for human aggression but also learning how easily manipulated we are as well. Which reinforces what the Tabaco, oil and automotive industries did during the 50s and up
And Trump.
I fully agree
Amazing! Really need a reference for that last experiment though?
Does anyone know the authors or name of the paper he talked about in the last minutes? I am really interested in reading it.
People who constantly and effortlessly approaching situations without any pre conceived ideas of what/who they interact with doesn't do these things, therefore creativity is enhance. Remain grounded.
My point may be simplistic to some or make no sense to others, but I think we humans are simply naturally binded to follow our self-interest (or simply anything causing no or a negligible loss), even if that resides in being cruel to another [person]... Indeed, I'm open to your points of views
Yeah i think its have sense. And its really sucks when i think about that we use others for our benefits and we don't care about others egoism/narcissism strong. Not long ago i am actually cried when thought about that though with other side i think i am person which actually have strong egoism/narcissism and don't care about anyone but myself. Its so weird
Genius!!! Thanks
Cool. I didn't know Jesus released new stuff!
JESUS will destroy evil people. .in HELL..so justice eventually prevails..
the honest seer Don’t get all Christy on us now
Swogle Dee R A P T U R E
Funny comment destroyed by apocalyptic religious people lol
Jesus was not white...
More people need to watch this especially now.
Interesting.
i wonder how this might relate to his findings in his study of baboons. did he analyze the oxytocin in the baboon troop? how did that troop get along with other troops or outsiders?
Sapolsky brillant as always
Survival. Those perceived as weakest are thought of as being a threat (to survival). This includes people with alternative ideals and attitudes. A parent becomes aggressive when protecting their children from a threat. It is hard wired, aggression. The problem is, this manifests in our day to day consciousness. If Them (individual or group) threatens a sense of survival, it leads to aggression in response. The merging of our indomitable will to survive and our consciousness results in intelligence. Irrationality is the consequence of this evolutionary process.
Love me some Sapolsky.
thank you
Robert you nailed it!!
I've also read that oxytocin, serotonin and testosterone and are not a good mix in a group situation. ISIS for example, love for the ingroup, religion and virile young men. Leads to the worst atrocities people can commit against an outgroup.
Sounds like a gross oversimplification. There's some sort of cult thing that happens regardless of T-levels. Not sure where you got that from, but it's not what I've observed. I think it's something more universal, something built into most people to blindly follow the most confident leader. The leader's competency and/or sanity is irrelevant. All that matters is their confidence. The formation of the cult is the mandatory prerequisite for unjustifiable acts of pure evil.
This is only can be applied to the masses of peoples. Only in context of averages, if the other factors is making only "noise" so the neurology can start to 'curve' the vector of the behavior of masses. In case of the single human can easily play role a lot different factors which will can lead to totally opposite result in behavior, such as power of will or education (which can shape neurology as well). Or if we can make a specific regulators outdriven for masses specifically - The Universal Human Rights, UN stuff, Security Council for the Governments and so on...
He simply makes you crack up internally at random instances.
That's why we like to put labels on people so that we could quickly judge if they're us or them, to survive in the evolution.
We have the anger to defend our point of view, and don't give to people hurt us and capture our personal space. Nonetheless, we mustn't go beyond from moral and law. Human can't live without anger by being surrouned of competitors.
My life you're under constant psychological persecution and then when you're done not feeling anything because you're not aloud to 'have feelings' they're like "why aren't you motivated?"
Yes
Bummed,I knew this for 40yrs.Atleast its being told.
lol this guy must be so pissed about anything relating to politics these days he understands things to well
Why can’t we all be an “us?”😢
great vid
I have been a them and it's more like that one guy that is an a outcast.
So... could it be said that people who tend to be more racist, sexist, homophobic, and/or xenophobic are those with higher oxytocin levels?
I have a well researched oxytocin snp and I'm not racist, sexist, xenophobic or whatever. I'm however very "elite" in my behaviour if you know what I mean. If I'm something I'm all of it. Whatever subculture I belong to I Indulge myself fully. Dig what I'm saying? I differentiate very strongly by nature. I also can read people like a book. I always wondered why that was so and after getting my gene report it all fell in place. My oxytocin snp also makes it that I don't take social rejection very well, hence the all or nothing attitude. One snp alone doesn't define a person though. Many more hormones and neurotransmitters are involved in personality.
I love Dr Sapolsky.
People pick favorites & groups i see. I have to be careful then
YES!
"The Dude" is back!
I say yes. Often for no apparent reason.
Everybody needs to see this
(FACTS OVA FEELINGS) Most PPL Don't Know That They R Being Cruel If They Did They Couldn't Keep Doing What They r Doing Most PPL Aren't Doing Things Deliberately to Hurt EU Instead They Got One Thing On Their Mind Themselves and Their Needs and Their Pain
When Big Think features Dr Sapolsky they should rename their show Huge Think.
Hey Prof Sapolsky. Big fan here. Just to let you know you accidentally said shortest when you meant longest ... about the "finger test" where people succumb to group think out of fear. Its obvious why your subconscious said short!!
Usses and thems. Identity versus identity. Wars have always been based on identity versus identity. It's in our nature. Plus we build different social constructs on top of that to make the Us versus Them more solid. Ego at its best.
What about fight for more land and resources? I think its more like selfish
Robert can you talk about how this has implications to some people being the synthetically influenced to being gay or other, I noticed by observation and communicating that with use of pheromones, disturbance of normal hormones levels and inception type visual stimuli tactics this may somewhat work on people who are oblivious (or unaware) In my opinion this is a huge problem in California since/due to legalization of marijuana! I know you talk a lot about social behavior and how we as society functions and affect people! But if someone like you doesn’t point out the issue may get out of hand, it’s possible we may even see weirder stuff of TikTok! Is it possible that people distort the meaning of what it means to be human! It’s one thing to watch actors but it’s another to have people live like that, I would like to know your thought on this! lol Ben Shapiro and others bloggers/vloggers talk about it but I don’t think they have the weight that you would based on your professional credentials.
so how do i manipulate my brain to not think of anyone as "them"?
Psycholog/philosophy of humanity thinking of a own vs them group:
The Peace Meditation Phrase Old Lyran written as: Salome gam nan ben Urda - gan njber asala Hesporona! pronounced as: Saalome gam naan ben uurda gan njjber asaala hesporoona! Français : Que la paix soit sur la terre et parmi toutes les créatures ! En español: ¡Paz en la tierra y entre todas las criaturas! Portuguese: Que a paz esteja na terra, e entre todas as criaturas! English: Peace be on the Earth, and among all created creations! Deutsch: Friede sei auf der Erde, und unter allen Geschöpfen! Romanian: Pacea să fie pe pământ, și printre toate creaturile! Italian: La pace sia sulla terra e tra tutte le creature! Afrikaans: Vrede vir die aarde en onder alle skepsele! Croatian: Mir na zemlji i među svim stvorenjima! Czech: Mír na zemi a mezi všemi tvory! Urdu: زمین پر اور تمام مخلوقات پر سلام ہو! Albanian: Paqja qoftë mbi tokë dhe ndër të gjitha krijesat! Indonesian: Damai sejahtera di bumi, dan di antara semua makhluk! Arabic: السلام على الارض وبين جميع المخلوقات! Persian: سلامتی بر زمین و بر جمیع حیوانات باد! Polish: Pokój niech będzie na ziemi i między wszystkimi stworzeniami. שלום עלי אדמות ובין כל היצורים! Hebrew: Danish: Fred være på jorden og blandt alle skabninger! Finnish: Rauha on maan päällä, ja kaikkien olentojen joukossa! Swedish: Frid vare på jorden, och bland alla varelser! Ukrainian: Мир на землі та між усіма створіннями! Russian: Да будет мир на земле и между всеми существами! Korean: 지구와 모든 피조물 사이에 평화가 있기를! Chinese: 愿和平降临于地上，万物之中也。 Vietnamese: Nguyện sự bình an giáng trên đất, Và giữa các loài vật! Japanese: 地上に、そしてすべての生き物の間に平和があるように! Hindi: पृथ्वी पर और सभी प्राणियों के बीच शांति हो!
Thanx Santa! :D
And yet when we are alone we will adapt and perceive anyone else no matter the origin as one with sentience and agency, even if it's only a dog."...and dog shall lead them"
This speaker was amezingly good
Do different states fight each other?
He's my spiritual guru!
So how do we explain the self hatred and self loathing currently taking place in many Western nations,particularly in the Anglosphere,amongst the European populations of those countries.
Keep the peace by finding a different enemy.
how bout blaming it on the aliens!
It's basically impossible to not judge others as "them" at some point, however, it needn't be a norm in your thought process. You've a beautiful, highly evolved prefrontal cortex that can override your limbic systems signals, should you choose to use it. Take advantage of your brains neuroplasticity, to stear you away from being reactionary. Build a philosophy around tolerance, compassion, and understanding. Study methods and practices that can foster greater self-awareness and self-control (e.g. meditation). Above all else, learn and practice critical thinking. Our evolved propensity towards prejudices and tribalism are strong and innate, but they're not a condition we're unable to push back against. Everyone will always fail at some point, the key is to learn and grow from it. If you choose to think critically and adopt guiding principles and practices that foster personal growth and stability, your ability to "override" your hardwiring will become second nature to you with time. Cheers.
The professor is just talking about large amount of peoples in the extrapolation average model where other factors is making 'noise' and the biology can start to curve the behavior of masses... Yet Universal Human Rights and stuff like that works fine. Just do not play too much in high density and cultural diversity regions with stuff that appealing to this very diversity in the era of thermonuclear and biochemical weapons of mass destruction... In my humble opinion.
Didn't get the part about placebo: didn't those people know humans have this hormone in them already? But that "spritz up" changed their answers magically, when one stage earlier, even after they got names, they said it doesn't matter. Maybe I got the whole bit wrong.
So who the hell keeps tying people to trolley tracks? Why aren't these social scientists working with CSI to catch this bastard instead of writing papers? And for God's sake, if you are overweight stay off of bridges that go over trolleys.
What l fail to understand is how, knowing this, one could still claim we're a species designed by a perfectly good, wise, omnipotent god, in said god's image, who -supposedly - also provided us with free will. I welcome anyone's oxytocin-enhanced religious brain to vigorously disagree xd
Yass but he likes Yankees more than he hates the blacks xd
You brought up an interesting point. Yup I've heard about the other Jimmy Fallon. I'm not a medical professional and I can't tell if your psychopath example specifically is valid, but as far as the general mutual influence of body and mind goes, of course I agree. The brain is part of the body after all, and there are numerous examples of physical diseases causing depression or, the other way around, meditation changing brain chemistry -- why would it be different? The whole division of body vs mind seems kind of artificial to me. My point is that the oxytocin mechanism *exists*, and not in some humans, but in humanity in general, it has an evolutionary explanation -- thus severely restricting our supposed free will, given that we're members of society. Which is one example of how we're in fact not at all what religion claims we are.
Actually, now that I think of it, the example of said Jimmy Fallon discredits your example a bit. As far as I remember, he did show some psychopathic tendencies (scored high on psychopath tests) -- but he never acted upon them to the point of being an outlaw. And his brain still looked like one of a full-blown serial killer
Simple: It is because of our fallen nature. We were all created as one group, but isolation from others led to distinct races and mindsets being born, hence the divisions we see among ourselves. It would be a bit harder (not completely gone of course) to hate if everyone was much more similar in most respects. Again, that would deal with some of the problems, not all. Cain still killed Abel after all.
MetakJesu07 We were never created as "one group". that's a fairy tale you imagine
So, could we symbolically learn, all humans are us's? Certainly not within an economic system of conflict and zero sum dominion that requires us against them in the founding purpose of life... But, if we accept our adaptive diversity and set a goal of mutual health, instead of massively dividing wealth?
It doesn't appear so.
So that's why I feel like I can't stand anyone else after spending the weekend with my boyfriend. Oxytociiiiin!!!
Unfortunately, hierarchy is in our human, meaning social animal, nature. Over the course of history, mistreatment of the poor, of women and slavery resulted from the need of hierarchy. Whilst the rich and powerful were admired, worshiped and feared like demi gods. Our wealthy rulers were our so called betters, without many people questioning that notion. Even now, there is hatred and disdain for the poor and unemployed everywhere. Whilst billionaires like Musk are seen as superheroes. The us versus them comes from the fact, that even the lowest individual of a group is seen as vastly better and higher ranking than any member of the them group. Including their leaders, their best. No doubt a great moment for the low, badly treated members of the us group. Hence, the popularity of hate and disrespect of the other. The inherent urge to have a hierarchy and to rise in it, to kneel down to people higher in the hierarchy and to kick the lower ranking individuals is quasi ubiquitous. Whenever people meet, they automatically register where the other is standing in the hierarchy. Higher or lower. One asks for jobs, looks at clothes, homes, addresses, vehicles or lack of them, listens to their language, asks about education etc. Mostly very subtly, but it matters. It is also the reason why capitalism is so persistent. On paper, in theory, degrowth, some kind of socialism or even some reformed communism or anarchism would be enormously beneficial for most of humanity. Not to speak about the vast benefits for the ecosystems and the biosphere. But thanks to the damn inbuild animalistic hierarchy seeking urge of humans, this is not likely to happen. Extremely few people can see through that need of hierarchy coming from being a social animal with all its mostly negative implications. That is because it is so deeply woven in our fabric. On the contrary, people seem to love hierarchy, from sports to war to nationalism to any competition or comparison like keeping up with the Jonse s. Judging people for e.g. the way they dress, bullying people who are different or weak, negative gossiping are ever popular. Even if most people are losers themselves, they do not question hierarchy. The not only American dream is to be a winner in the end. Better than the others. A pipe dream that the industry uses to sell their stuff. The inbuild urge for hierarchy is the curse of humanity. There is no chance for a change to the better without tackling that problem. Which will be hard or even impossible since it is part of our social animal nature. But one should try by educating people about it.
I got it!! Instead of singing songs about "Rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air" Let's sing "Kumbai ya ma lord kumbai ya"
The scenario - if you push the guy, you send a message to everyone you know that they need to watch you when their back is turned. Your kids will need to watch you when they go near a cliff. A tremendous amount of social possibility is lost then. And probably psychic wellbeing of the entire group is lost. Do you want to be looking over your shoulder - even to your friends . I would rather die in a crash that wasn't averted, than have my friends live in a backwatching world. Id rather l take my chance with defective railcars than subject them to that. Trust and willingness to accept unlucky breaks with dignity are cornerstone principle of civilization. They are the things which keep us safe and happy🌸
I'm Generally unaffected by this divide. nose stuff or no nose stuff. I think most people are actually. It's hard to imagine a decision like that. I would like to hear from people who have actually had to make that sort of decision.
It is SO hard, and I mean, SOOOOOOOOOOO hard to make someone to agree they are just another mammal. Very impressive one, but just another animal after all. We need to overcome humanism to move beyond our current problems to address our difficulties. Not to solve them, but to really change the frame to address what we perceive as problems, to tackle other causes (Perhaps "real" ones this time around). Not sure what it might do, but I mean... no one could imagine what using engineering over god to build bridges would accomplish.