Watch a follow up interview with Professor Sapolsky by Dr. Josef Parvizi (Stanford Medical School) and Dr. Abbas Milani (Stanford Iranian Studies): ua-cam.com/video/68iNlWaAl4U/v-deo.html
Thank you for uploading this video. I believe it's one of the most interesting one I've watched, and I share it with many friends. But I truly believe it would benefit from having subtitles so I could share it with many more people (French, in my regard, but even just English transcript would be a good start). Are you planning on making such a dream come true? Thank you
This comment scared me for a moment, the past tense wording made me think he had died and I hadn't heard about it. But yes I'm also glad so much of his content is so easily accessible.
Robert is a man among men... proof of our potential to evolve beyond violence and coercion. If aliens came down to visit, I wouldn't mind if Sapolsky was our representative.
O well for nature we are the aliens , we are not natural evolved like all other living things, that is not possible. ( Darwin ) Or explain how nature has change a specie from 48 chromosomes into a specie with 46 chromosomes, Nature make in all specie's a deviation in chromosomes between 20 /45 deviations , humans can have at least over 400 deviations . Primates are NOT the natural forefathers of humankind .
Thank you Stanford U, this is the epitomy of free education. Thank you UA-cam and internet for making it possible. And so much respect to this inspiring educator.
I am surrounded by, as a lot probably are, family and friends who tend to think in terms of black and white. Politics, religion, tons of different subjects, they have their rigid views and rarely, if ever, change them or even expand them to include any other viewpoints. I have, for as long as I can remember, always wanted to know the whys are wherefores of behaviors, while being told “who cares?” by anyone else I might be talking to about any particular subject. Finding this guy all these years later has absolutely quenched all of my curiosity and answered all of my questions-including many I didn’t even know I had-and I could not be more grateful for the opportunity to listen to him. I’m joining others in expressing my thanks to Stanford, UA-cam, and most importantly the professor in coming together to make this possible for all of us. ❤️
Thank you for your most high recommendation to read Dr. Robert Sapolsky’s book, “A Primate’s Memoir”. I will definitely read it! I learned of and began listening to Dr. Robert Sapolsky on UA-cam a few years ago and I thoroughly enjoy his classroom lectures or public speaking engagements. What a knowledgeable person with such a great gift to impart his knowledge with both incredible facts and fun. I believe if you’d ever had him as a Professor, you could never miss one of his classes. 👍🏼
@Duncan Macleod You can't relate to his rhetoric. It threatens you. You are afraid. So you call him a coward. And how do we know this? You have chosen to pretend that you are immortal.
I could listen to this man speak all day, on any subject. He easily connects with his audience, speaks with an inviting cadence and is supremely knowledgeable yet unpretentious.
I’m reading all the comments to this video and it gives me hope for humanity. We all love him. We need a get together where like minds can meet.Instead of being around a bunch of friends that don’t ever think about this stuff.
I watch Professor Sapolsky lectures on a regular basis. He ties so many subjects in on one topic, and more. He's insightful, informative, and delightful to listen too. Love this guy.
@@atheistcrusader1160 How is it possible that you can listen to one of Robert Sapolsky's lectures and still manage to post such an ignorant comment? I guess you must have been sitting on a hard chair or had smelly garbage in your room.
@@nevertethered6386 didn't know why you were so butthurt until I saw your videos, didn't know there were mentally ill people around here. Now, your rap is on point I'll give you that but rap is still cancer...
@@atheistcrusader1160Thanks. That actually made me laugh and thanks for the compliment. Why is rap cancer? If you are talking about commercialised "rap" then I would have no choice but to agree. However I would also state that ANY art form becomes cancerous once it is commercialised. Once that happens it is no longer worth the resources used to produce it.
I’m 26 minutes into the lecture and my mind is being blown over and over and over… Thank You Stanford staff for sharing the brilliant work of Robert Sapolski!!!
I love Roberts conferences. I was taking notes alongside and pausing to go over, and after about an hour and a half of replaying, listening, and writing down... I realized I was still only 26 minutes into this hour-long talk. Every lecture is a reservoir of information, thank you for posting!
This was one of the most epic talks of all time. Taking a split second of an action by a human and breaking down the genetic and non-genetic factors that lead to that specific action, from the split second to genes and such handed from from hundreds of thousands of years. Just fucking incredible.
This man gives me hope. He is so intelligent and has studied humanity so thoroughly, yet still has true compassion with understanding. What a beautiful man who makes even our ugliest parts able to be spoken with tenderness, yet the appeal for humanity. I love it!
I watch you on you tube as therapy. Still need to buy your books. I love your mind and your humor. You are amazing and I wish you were one of my many amazing professors. You teachers touch so many lives, and you don’t even realize what you contribute. Thank you .
@@supercalafragulisticexpeal6850 exceptional speaker. Are you from one Of the countries which were involved in WW? I’m not and this part did touch me as a human but not that strongly.
@@supercalafragulisticexpeal6850 It is just a movie, but if you haven't seen it, "A Midnight Clear" touches on the humanity the vast majority are capable of and the insanity that is war.
Same Rod Villanueva. I read what I have heard so far in "Behave" (which I loved) and still find it fascinating. I watched his lecture series on UA-cam twice. I want to learn this well.
If you're new to his work, the title of this video is the subtitle of his book Behave. Some mostly loose quotes from the video with approximate time stamps: 30:00 - Sports team loyalties (and individuation, according to 69:00 Susan Fiske's studies) can override raicial bias. Racial bias is not innate but acquired. 32:00 - Testosterone doesn't cause aggression. It does whatever is needed to raise/maintain status, even if it means doing random acts of kindness. So "the trouble is that we reward aggression with status so readily." 34:00 - Oxytocin doesn't make us more prosocial. It makes us more prosocial to people who feel like "one of us". If it's a them, it makes us crappier and more xenophobic to them. So it exaggerates the divide between "us"s and "them"s. 38:00 - The frontal cortex is the last part of brain to come online, the part least shaped by genes and most shaped by experience and environment. 40:00 - Hormones in bloodstream can cause epigenetic changes that impact us even before birth. Fetal environment and how we are cared for as infants play a role in shaping how we become as adults. 43:00 - Different environments regulate the same gene in different ways. Ex: MAO-alpha variant of gene is associated with antisocial violent behavior but ONLY IF there was childhood abuse; if not then the gene has no effect whatsoever. 46:00 - Environment and ways of living have affected the kinds of religions people have invented. Desert dwellers monotheistic, rain forest dwellers polytheistic, most hunter-gatherers' gods don't care what they do, high density populations invented moralizing gods, pastoralists (to help protect their stealable livestock) came up with cultures of honor built around violent retribution, warrior classes, honor killings, vendettas that stretch for centuries. 55:00 - One of the most remarkable events in WWI was the Christmas Truce of 1914. Soldiers became friends on battlefield, all effects of military training and propaganda evaporated, they only pretended to be trying to shoot, until the officers arrived days later to threaten to shoot them if they don't get back to actually trying to kill each other. 57:00 - One of the things that galvanized the anti-war movement during the Vietnam War in the US more than anything was the Mỹ Lai massacre. Gunship helicopter pilot Hugh Thompson stopped the massacre by threatening to shoot soldiers of his own country when he saw them murdering women and babies in the village, completely changing who was an "us" and who was a "them." 1:01:00 - Free will is what we call the biology that hasn't been discovered yet... We should probably start with the criminal justice system. There are some domains where it is absolutely essential that we do it because basically the science that informed the current criminal justice system is based on neuroscience from the mid 19th century and that's appalling. 1:04:00 - Peer/conformity effects are incredibly strong on children and especially on adolescents. 1:09:00 - About a study by Susan Fiske, which showed that the mind can be rewired within seconds in how it responds to the sight of different races. While imagining the other as an individual, making a guess as to whether or not they might like something, the amygdala doesn't activate because they're too busy thinking about how the other feels. "Words, brains, bodies, behaviors, cultures and genes all co-evolve... There is no species on earth that is less genetically deterministic than we are."
thanks... always appreciate someone leaving time cue breadcrumbs... I was enjoying the first minute and a half of intro... but... then scrolled ahead to find the 5 min. mark
I wouldn't say all that. he knows the material of his field well and he is an effective teacher, as well as clearly being intelligent. but there's no genius to it.
Thank you for the story about Hugh Clowers Thompson Jr. 57:00. His crew members included Lawrence Manley Colburn and Glenn Urban Andreotta. These are my newest heroes.
I am 17 and I watched it full. Coincidentally enough, I just wanted to know about these stuff but didn't know what to search for. I have to thank UA-cam for this. And thank you more for this sir.I would want to know more about the violence, politic, mindsets of people and why the world operates the way it does and how corrupted things can be solved and innocent lives can be saved. Basically it's all about a revolution for me. Again, thank you so much sir
I just realized that I watch your videos when I need a counselor. I do right now, but you're so much better than the VA people. Thank you so much for you. You may not know how much you've helped people, and maybe especially Veterans and people that are struggling. I've told so many veterans to watch your videos, don't know if they listened though. Hope they did.
Insightful, meaningful perspective on very interesting studies that should be taught throughout our society starting at the high school level. Very well done Sir!
During the entire lecture, I kept cross referencing moments when I have seen these behavioral ideas in a real world social context. An amazing presentation from a brilliant person. I will definitely check out his books.
Really we need this type of people who so brilliant and good communicator help you to understand science in a broad range . Standford univ is a excellent choice for students who are interested in human biology , neurological sciences .
I've been watching the recordings of his lectures on UA-cam, these exact things were covered extensively in them it amazes me even more how he can bring more insight to those same lessons in a summarized form. The introduction of these buckets and breaking free of them or applying their framework then relating them to other frameworks has become such a great tool.
OK, after listening to the end... thank you Robert Sopolsky. Listening to you is a grace, thank you for being born and sharing. Live long and prosper!!! Thank you.
Wow...finally I found what I was looking for, I wanted to understand my behavior and juggling all over the places looking for right context or spritual Guru and somehow I bumped into Prof Sapolsky's Stanford lecture series....and it changed my life I mean now I can completely understand why i feel low, horrible , anxiety, depressed or happy 😀 or in that context all human being.... And now I am regretting why I did not study human behaviour 🙈 But...thank you so much Stanford and other sources for putting Prof Saposky's lecture/interviews and broden my horizone to understand me and my behavior... Wish I could meet him once in my lifetime 🤞
None of us should ever underestimate the power of possibilities. We all have coping mechanisms, strategies of dealing with adversities, and various optimistic outlooks, and some are healthy and some are not so healthy or even down right destructive. At the end of the day we should yurn to seek out what makes us fulfilled and rings that special bell we all have inside of us. And while we honorably and diligently pursue this we take care to be considerate to others that may not be equipped to do this. It sounds so incredibly simplified and really easy when spoken with words, but in reality it is a baffling and staggeringly impossible task to perceive much less actually do in reality. At the end of time none of us are exact in what will happen, of this I know despite what any one person or group of people profess or speak or write. Anything is possible. What will happen is of no consequence at all, it means nothing. What does matter is what you really were, not that one thing I did once or for awhile, but who was I? We are all like a wanderer on a large beach looking for beautiful or interesting seashells or rocks to add to our strange little collection of seashells and rocks that no one else just us, cares about. At the end of that day It won’t matter what we’ve added or removed from that collection, it will only matter who and what we really were, as we picked up those seashells and rocks. I don’t mean life is a test, pass or fail, or anything like this because I simply don’t believe this. If this were the case, man’s ability to rationalize would take it anywhere. Where you were born, where you lived, your parents, what kind of school you went to, the people you were close to, what your skin color was, how you prayed, I think you get it. I do think there is something else far better, wiser, fairer, and kinder than we are as humans at the end of time. Our job as humans either by design or chance, better or worse is to truly find ourselves individually, which may be more difficult than we can consider or have the ability to. There are too many ways for a person to get distracted, or reason, or even have the time and arguably even the natural or biological ability to achieve or access this. It also could be too simple even easy for our limited, or complicated minds or souls, take your pick. ( the arrogant, ego driven, lost, self righteous, unsure, judges, soldiers of a side…., emotional diagnosis yx123, confident, achieved an understanding, or the misguided, the confused)- this is your designated time to jump or chime in. I’ve been on sides in the past, I’ve worn worn different hats figuratively and literally at times. The only side I hope in the future that I ever choose will be the human side. I hope I never loose sight of this I really do. There is no better way to relate, bond over, become friends, share humor over, than to live and breathe and go thru this unbelievably surreal strange good and bad life together. I consider you all my brothers and sisters and whatever pronouns or more accurate descriptions I can use. There is no us and them, no yeah but…, or all except, you are all my family in this thing we call with a word life. I want the absolute best for each and every one of you, I really do. Chances are that not many at all, if anyone will read this, it doesn’t matter if it is like that. If you are all by yourself you are not alone. I am by myself but I choose to see there are others figuratively and literally. I want good for all of you even if I don’t know any of you. I choose to speak it forth out into the universe. I don’t have time, resources, clout, or pull to really make anything happen for anyone except maybe a little pet, but I choose to speak wonderful things to happen to everyone whether you read this or not. Be open to the possibility and consider that what you think you need, that you may in fact not need it at all. Sometimes I thought I needed something and when I got it, the only thing I found out is that I didn’t need it at all and I had given up other things to get it that I in ways needed those things I had taken for granted or forsaken in pursuit of that thing. I have possessed or had many things you name it here……. I had it. Those things, whatever you thought of when I said that, did not truly matter as I look back and reflect on my life. I do see things I wish I had done, if I had it to do over and you cannot live there. You just can’t do anything about it and you certainly cannot live there. As you walk through your life be fearless in the since you won’t get another opportunity. Fight against any impulse at all of “I don’t want to end up old with regrets or wishing I could go back and do what I thought I should have done.” Anything is literally possible, ANYTHING. If you are an unusual person with a specific disadvantage, this is all the more reason you should do it. You will most likely succeed because of that disadvantage because of it in some strange way they can’t describe yet but we know why it happens 100 years from now. I want the best for all of you. Figure out what you truly want and need and go get it, it is yours to be had, it won’t be as nearly as hard as you thought it was looking back, it just won’t I promise and give you my assurance, I’m telling you from my own experience. While we are all succeeding we must remember to keep in focus to treat others like we would like to be treated. This is a cornerstone of every decent faith or spiritualism (whichever you chose). We don’t have the freedom to crush anyone indiscriminately just because they are in the way. Let your heart guide you. It’s ok to win, but define for yourself in your heart what is winning and what is not. Some cliches in life are true, “the best things in life are free” “you can do anything you want” “you get only one go around in life” “money isn’t everything” “we need each other more than we can understand” “you can’t always get what you want, but if you try you get what you need” and my opinion “love is the best thing we can do and always the answer”. I’m sure I have the slight appearance of being nuts and if that’s the case then so be it. We need each other. If you feel weird, I promise you that everyone else is weird too especially the person you’re thinking of now. If you feel sad, it will pass better times are ahead. It’s ok to seek help, just reach out and never give up. There aren’t any absolutes, everything is variable to some degree, if not alot. Even in your darkest hour, know that things will change and everything does change especially your feelings. Always remember to have empathy towards others, the hardest thing in this world is to live this life, in this we are all equal and we are all family in every way. Again, I am praying, hoping, wishing, agreeing, for you to be happy, fullfilled, to be both loved and to give love. I hope everyone (including myself)finds true purpose and fulfillment and what their meaningful purpose is in this life. It is said “some people have to win, some people have to lose” I don’t believe that. I do think that for me at 52yo, I’ve had to completely reconsider and rethink what my whole idea of what winning was in the first place and this is where I am now. I would urge you to rethink what you are putting your efforts towards and know why your doing it, what is it you truly want, who are you and what would truly make you happy more than anything else. Nothing is an obstacle once you have figured out your dream, you can figure out and navigate anything. It will never be a dream again once you’ve achieved it. We are all in this together and we all are in the humankind family despite what anyone says, does, acts, writes, or what sign they carry.
It's such a delight to watch Robert speaking about seemingly difficult topics, and dissecting it to make it accessible to the wider audience. Also such a terrific speaker!! Phew!! 😄
@@ekbastu Yep. "Save the planet? Are these people serious? We haven't even learned to take care of one another and we are gonna save the fucking planet?!" "The planet is fine. The people are fucked". One of my favourites, along with almost all the others. I like the "George Carlin's Greatest Speech" clip especially.
@@nevertethered6386 this reaction to covid is only necessary because the us government has failed at everything. If you want to exist in the public, you must protect eachother, or you can leave because you will kill off the population.
He's too smart & I've been binjing on his materials without being a Human Biology student. Since a child, I loved biology more than any other subject so discovering this guy is a real sensation. I wonder if he's Jewish, Russian or Polish... :)
US through and through ;) but as for his heritage, I've wondered that too! USSR incorporated a part of Poland, and his surname doesn't sound typically Russian at all, and much closer to Polish. I wonder if it's possible to know if his grandparents lived in current-day Belarus. mine did, and it would be pretty cool to know how many kilometers away ;D
In some instances a smile is an act of friendship and trust and compassion whereas in some instances it's the same smile that's an act of knowing 'all the bad stuff you could do' and an act of mockery an act of "you are getting on my bad side".
Huh? Free will doesnt exist, except through our ignorance of the complexity of the predetermined course past events set us up for and the causal web we create thru that destiny that constitute the future... Biology? Sounds like malarky to me
SUCH AN ICON . AS ALWAYSS BEING INFORMED BY HIS VOICE . WHEN I ASK A PERSON IF THEY WANT TO FIX THIERSELVES. . . . BEFORE THEY ANSWER YES OR NO, I SAY WATCH THE LECTURES OF Professor Sapolsky play the videos at half speed so you will keep up taking notes and not get burned out replaying bits of the lecture
"Few things activate the dopamine system more than the prospects of righteous punishment." As Kurt Vonnegut wrote in Mother Night, it's wanting to sin with God on your side.
People who admire him a lot, who else do you recommend discovering who blew your mind in a similar way? Let’s share ideas. My all time favorite is Michael Sandal at Harvard with his lectures on Justice
Hi Nadya, thank you for sharing info on Sandel. Will check him out soon. I recommend Andrew Huberman’s weekly UA-cam podcasts. Like Sapolsky, he teaches neuroscience at Stanford. His podcasts are strictly applicable to everyday life.
Well, not in a similar way but Eric Weinstein is quite the unusual character I suppose. As far as biology goes, reading "The selfish gene" blew my 13 year old mind pretty good.
Came here from the Stanford lecture videos. What a magnificent human being and the depth knowledge and understanding he has aboout the subject is amazing. Also his sense of humour during classes. Oh just to be his student and attend his lectures. Totally in awe.
Video Title: Exploring the Intersections of Biology, Behavior, and Free Will Introduction: The Biology Behind Human Behavior The video explores complex questions surrounding human behavior, free will, and the role of biology in shaping actions and personality. The speaker delves into a nuanced examination of how genetics, brain structures, and environmental factors influence but do not fully determine human behavior. By bridging scientific theory with practical implications, the discussion invites viewers to reflect on the delicate balance between biological determinism and human potential for growth and change. Part 1: Foundations of Behavioral Biology Key Themes in Genes, Environment, and Behavior 1. Genetics as Predisposition, Not Determinism • The speaker opens by emphasizing that while genes are central to our biological framework, they offer predispositions rather than strict behavioral outcomes. This theme sets the stage for examining how genes interact with external factors to influence individual choices and behaviors. 2. Environmental Influence and Developmental Plasticity • The role of environmental conditions-such as socioeconomic status, cultural norms, and upbringing-is emphasized as equally influential in behavior. The speaker uses the term “epigenetics” to describe how external factors can impact gene expression, providing a mechanism for adaptation and flexibility. • Brain Plasticity: Discusses how the brain can adapt its connections and processes in response to experiences, which is essential for recovery from trauma, developing empathy, or overcoming harmful habits. Behavioral Case Studies 1. Aggression and Survival Mechanisms • Case studies on wartime aggression illustrate how environmental pressures can trigger aggressive behaviors as survival mechanisms, showing aggression not as an inherent trait but as a situational response. 2. Empathy and Altruism • The concept of empathy is explored through mirror neurons, which simulate others’ emotions, and altruism, which may have evolved to ensure kin and group survival. Altruism, while seemingly selfless, is presented as biologically advantageous. 3. Addiction and Dopamine Reward Pathways • Addiction serves as an example of biological mechanisms gone awry, where reward pathways in the brain are manipulated by substances, leading to compulsive behavior. This section discusses dopamine’s role in reinforcing certain actions and how addiction disrupts self-control. The Brain and Behavioral Regulation 1. Amygdala and Instinctive Fear • The amygdala’s role in processing fear is covered, particularly its function in quick, instinctive responses to potential threats. This segment links innate fears (e.g., of snakes or spiders) with evolutionary survival needs. 2. Frontal Cortex and Long-Term Decision-Making • The frontal cortex allows individuals to assess consequences and make long-term decisions. The speaker contrasts impulsive reactions, governed by the amygdala, with the rationalization capabilities of the frontal cortex. 3. Prefrontal Cortex in Adolescence • The delayed development of the prefrontal cortex in teenagers explains why adolescents are more prone to impulsivity and peer influence, reinforcing the powerful role of social dynamics in shaping young individuals. Part 2: Advanced Concepts in Human Change and Free Will The Flexibility of Human Identity and Social Behavior 1. Tribalism and Group Perception • The concept of “us vs. them” is rooted in evolutionary psychology, reflecting a survival instinct to categorize individuals. However, this instinct often manifests as irrational biases in modern society. • The speaker contends that these biases are malleable; social interactions and diverse environments can recondition one’s perception of others. 2. Peer Influence and Identity • In adolescence, peer influence significantly shapes identity, with teenagers relying on others’ perceptions to define themselves. This developmental stage underscores the strength of conformity and group dynamics in personal identity formation. Biology and Free Will: Examining Human Autonomy 1. The Free Will Debate • The speaker expresses skepticism about free will, suggesting that “free will” may simply represent biological processes not yet understood. According to this view, behaviors often attributed to choice could be heavily shaped by genetics and environmental conditioning. 2. Implications for Society • If free will is indeed an illusion, society must reconsider its approach to justice, rehabilitation, and individual responsibility. The speaker calls for an updated criminal justice system that reflects current neuroscience, rather than relying on outdated models based on 19th-century ideas. 3. Conditioned Responses and Racial Perception • The video discusses conditioned responses, particularly in the context of racial perception, noting that people who grew up in diverse environments exhibit lower fear or bias responses in the amygdala. This suggests that personal experiences can alter conditioned behaviors, even if initial biases seem hardwired. Cutting-Edge Neuroscience and Moral Implications 1. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Decision-Making • TMS, a technology used to stimulate or inhibit specific brain regions, is presented as a groundbreaking research tool that shifts our understanding from correlation to causation. By influencing specific brain areas, scientists can observe how moral and rational decisions are altered, highlighting the brain’s control over behavioral tendencies. 2. Ethics and Potential for Behavioral Manipulation • The speaker notes that TMS has far-reaching ethical implications, as the ability to influence decisions raises concerns about manipulation and consent. While currently a research tool, the potential for behavioral influence evokes both excitement and caution about its future uses. Conclusion: The Intersection of Science, Behavior, and Society Biological Potential for Change While biology plays a critical role in shaping behavior, the speaker asserts that understanding and awareness of our biological predispositions can empower individuals to enact personal and societal change. The potential for neuroplasticity and behavioral flexibility underscores the idea that human beings, while influenced by biology, are not solely defined by it. Societal Responsibility and Scientific Awareness The speaker emphasizes the importance of applying scientific insights to improve social structures, particularly the justice system, mental health care, and educational policies. By recognizing how biology influences behavior, society can foster more compassionate, effective, and scientifically grounded approaches to address issues like addiction, violence, and social bias. Final Thoughts on Human Potential and Transformation Ultimately, the video leaves viewers with a call to study and appreciate instances of profound human change. By examining how individuals overcome adversity and demonstrate resilience, we can better understand the interplay of biology and free will-and perhaps unlock the keys to repeat such transformations in our own lives. This combined summary offers a complete view of the video, capturing its extensive insights into human biology, the debate over free will, and the practical implications for personal and societal growth. Let me know if you’d like further breakdowns of specific sections or insights on any part.
says someone comfortably watching a recorded video shared over internet, all the while using electricity. But yea, FINALLY science has some application :\
To Stanfird Iranian Studies Program: van you in future improve through always provide a Roaming Mic.. To Robert Sapolosky Brilliant contextualisation of the provocative challenges ahead and thanks to your dedication ...It deserves a Nobel Nobel Award....
Watch a follow up interview with Professor Sapolsky by Dr. Josef Parvizi (Stanford Medical School) and Dr. Abbas Milani (Stanford Iranian Studies): ua-cam.com/video/68iNlWaAl4U/v-deo.html
Thank you for uploading this video. I believe it's one of the most interesting one I've watched, and I share it with many friends. But I truly believe it would benefit from having subtitles so I could share it with many more people (French, in my regard, but even just English transcript would be a good start). Are you planning on making such a dream come true? Thank you
Thanks for sharing
He meant to say “ Borscht Belt “ ( Jewish Catskills )
¹
I am Iranian and really envy you guys who had a chance to work with him and learn from him
The day I found this guy, was the day having Internet has finally paid off.
And yet I'm sure the internet has so much more to offer. A gift that keeps giving.
@@JongiB96 if you know what to look for, which a lot of people don´t, and that is a shame
wordsmith
And the Internet has porn too.
The internet and smartphones are some of the worst things that have ever happened to humanity
I'm so glad so many of his courses and lectures were filmed and posted freely to the public.
This comment scared me for a moment, the past tense wording made me think he had died and I hadn't heard about it. But yes I'm also glad so much of his content is so easily accessible.
@@darkrebel123lol
Should be standard for all lectures in the world. Open access
@@darkrebel123 😅 From my knowledge he know no longer records his teaching. He still does plenty of interviews and podcast appearances.
@@N3Rd32 yeah I still listen to his podcasts and interviews from time to time. Always interesting to hear his thoughts
Robert is a man among men... proof of our potential to evolve beyond violence and coercion. If aliens came down to visit, I wouldn't mind if Sapolsky was our representative.
O well for nature we are the aliens , we are not natural evolved like all other living things, that is not possible. ( Darwin )
Or explain how nature has change a specie from 48 chromosomes into a specie with 46 chromosomes,
Nature make in all specie's a deviation in chromosomes between 20 /45 deviations , humans can have at least over 400 deviations .
Primates are NOT the natural forefathers of humankind .
I wouldn’t send him. What if they are collecting specimens. You want to risk only few good one left in this planet?
I feel the same. He’s amazing. Sapolsky for president?
@@julieearp9549 If only...
Man among men? Ew.
Thank you Stanford U, this is the epitomy of free education. Thank you UA-cam and internet for making it possible. And so much respect to this inspiring educator.
epitome. As long as it's free :)
Well said
@@deweybelvin8624
Agreed.
@@panjandrum.conundrum
When I focus on the
things I want to change,
That is where I find my power.
@@faithfulgrl
Especially,
And this is strange,
Because I focus on the wiring.
"Free will is the biology that we haven't discovered yet". Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. A gifted instructor.
He explains it so well! Complicated subjects can be understood so much easier when they're explained well.
please help me jump to that part of the lecture? when does he talk about that?
Sorry, I just remember that it is toward the end of the video.
@Arash Venus Not at all. Understanding how the brain works doesn't make it less amazing.
@Arash Venus To understant that we're not, you'd better stop fuckink youself))
Insane amounts of knowledge packed into this man's beautiful brain.
I am surrounded by, as a lot probably are, family and friends who tend to think in terms of black and white. Politics, religion, tons of different subjects, they have their rigid views and rarely, if ever, change them or even expand them to include any other viewpoints. I have, for as long as I can remember, always wanted to know the whys are wherefores of behaviors, while being told “who cares?” by anyone else I might be talking to about any particular subject. Finding this guy all these years later has absolutely quenched all of my curiosity and answered all of my questions-including many I didn’t even know I had-and I could not be more grateful for the opportunity to listen to him. I’m joining others in expressing my thanks to Stanford, UA-cam, and most importantly the professor in coming together to make this possible for all of us. ❤️
Yeah. I am live in Russia as 23 yo guy and i hope in future i can do something for good/great world including sacrifice myself
He has a cadence to his voice the feels melodious to me and easy to listen , comprehend and follow
Yes, like Morgan freeman.
I highly recommend his book 'A Primate's Memoir'. I read it about 30 years ago, and have not read a better book since. It's stunningly good.
It was published in 2001
@@ambergupta2784 😅
Thank you for your most high recommendation to read Dr. Robert Sapolsky’s book, “A Primate’s Memoir”. I will definitely read it! I learned of and began listening to Dr. Robert Sapolsky on UA-cam a few years ago and I thoroughly enjoy his classroom lectures or public speaking engagements. What a knowledgeable person with such a great gift to impart his knowledge with both incredible facts and fun. I believe if you’d ever had him as a Professor, you could never miss one of his classes. 👍🏼
Personally, I prefer "A Pirate's Memoarrrr"
@@Howitchewstofeel5gum I suppose a slow clap is in order.
The most articulate professor I’ve ever heard. Great public speaker and does a good job of simplifying for the public.
i can listen to this guy all day...
He is absolutely fascinating.
I JUST DID!
And night!
...and all night 😜
@Duncan Macleod
You can't relate to his rhetoric. It threatens you. You are afraid. So you call him a coward.
And how do we know this? You have chosen to pretend that you are immortal.
I could listen to this man speak all day, on any subject. He easily connects with his audience, speaks with an inviting cadence and is supremely knowledgeable yet unpretentious.
I’m reading all the comments to this video and it gives me hope for humanity. We all love him. We need a get together where like minds can meet.Instead of being around a bunch of friends that don’t ever think about this stuff.
I watch Professor Sapolsky lectures on a regular basis. He ties so many subjects in on one topic, and more. He's insightful, informative, and delightful to listen too. Love this guy.
its a shame how some cheap, intellectually-limited community colleges teachers have the guts to call themselves "professors"
He'd be a good rapper. He never stops and it all makes sense.
Rap is cancer
@@atheistcrusader1160 How is it possible that you can listen to one of Robert Sapolsky's lectures and still manage to post such an ignorant comment? I guess you must have been sitting on a hard chair or had smelly garbage in your room.
@@nevertethered6386 didn't know why you were so butthurt until I saw your videos, didn't know there were mentally ill people around here. Now, your rap is on point I'll give you that but rap is still cancer...
@@atheistcrusader1160Thanks. That actually made me laugh and thanks for the compliment.
Why is rap cancer? If you are talking about commercialised "rap" then I would have no choice but to agree. However I would also state that ANY art form becomes cancerous once it is commercialised. Once that happens it is no longer worth the resources used to produce it.
@@nevertethered6386 well on that at least we can both agree
I wish that during high school I had some idea that professors like this one existed in universities!
Amen
Right …… rather than those morons allowed to teach the children in this country.God forbid you think outside of the box……
I’m in high school so I guess I do . Are professors really that bad?
@@teenage_socialist_edgelordnot at all i have has classes that cover topics like this depends on your major or the classes ur university requires
This man is an institution. Every lecture has some wealth of wisdom. Thank you
I’m 26 minutes into the lecture and my mind is being blown over and over and over…
Thank You Stanford staff for sharing the brilliant work of Robert Sapolski!!!
😢 41:05 ot
I love Roberts conferences. I was taking notes alongside and pausing to go over, and after about an hour and a half of replaying, listening, and writing down... I realized I was still only 26 minutes into this hour-long talk. Every lecture is a reservoir of information, thank you for posting!
O
As a child I also had retribution-fueled fantasies against people I thought were horrible. I love how he started his presentation.
Pretty mature of you to acknowledge that, most people wouldn’t admit that
Oh God. What a gifted man. What a gift to be able to listen to him just with a click.
My absolute favourite teacher. Thank you, again, Professor Sapolsky.
This was one of the most epic talks of all time. Taking a split second of an action by a human and breaking down the genetic and non-genetic factors that lead to that specific action, from the split second to genes and such handed from from hundreds of thousands of years. Just fucking incredible.
This man gives me hope. He is so intelligent and has studied humanity so thoroughly, yet still has true compassion with understanding. What a beautiful man who makes even our ugliest parts able to be spoken with tenderness, yet the appeal for humanity. I love it!
I watch you on you tube as therapy. Still need to buy your books. I love your mind and your humor. You are amazing and I wish you were one of my many amazing professors. You teachers touch so many lives, and you don’t even realize what you contribute. Thank you .
Robert Sapolsky is an enlightening speaker.
I freaking adore Sapolsky.
I love how I spotted your comments under all of his lectures
@@viniislaif1532 ahaha same bro!
Hmmm, surpassed my highest expectations by far...
"May you live in peace and prosper"
More power to you, Sir !
This guy is an amazing speaker. He made me cry.
Which part specifically
@@ekbastu The part when he was speaking about the soldiers having a Christmas truce was what got me.
@@supercalafragulisticexpeal6850 exceptional speaker. Are you from one Of the countries which were involved in WW? I’m not and this part did touch me as a human but not that strongly.
@@ekbastu It makes me sad when I hear about stories of war, and people dying, and for no other reason than to make some people more rich and powerful.
@@supercalafragulisticexpeal6850 It is just a movie, but if you haven't seen it, "A Midnight Clear" touches on the humanity the vast majority are capable of and the insanity that is war.
Once I started watching this program, I cannot stop until the completion
Same Rod Villanueva. I read what I have heard so far in "Behave" (which I loved) and still find it fascinating. I watched his lecture series on UA-cam twice. I want to learn this well.
UA-cam twinks
A brilliantly well structured talk, packed with mini summaries and backed with examples
A genius is here alive today on earth and we don't have to wait a half of a century to read about this is so cool this guy is fantastic!
Brilliant. Should be compulsory for ALL to hear this talk. Once a week to begin with.
I love Professors like this. With them you sometimes wish at the end that the lecture would never end.
If you're new to his work, the title of this video is the subtitle of his book Behave. Some mostly loose quotes from the video with approximate time stamps:
30:00 - Sports team loyalties (and individuation, according to 69:00 Susan Fiske's studies) can override raicial bias. Racial bias is not innate but acquired.
32:00 - Testosterone doesn't cause aggression. It does whatever is needed to raise/maintain status, even if it means doing random acts of kindness. So "the trouble is that we reward aggression with status so readily."
34:00 - Oxytocin doesn't make us more prosocial. It makes us more prosocial to people who feel like "one of us". If it's a them, it makes us crappier and more xenophobic to them. So it exaggerates the divide between "us"s and "them"s.
38:00 - The frontal cortex is the last part of brain to come online, the part least shaped by genes and most shaped by experience and environment.
40:00 - Hormones in bloodstream can cause epigenetic changes that impact us even before birth. Fetal environment and how we are cared for as infants play a role in shaping how we become as adults.
43:00 - Different environments regulate the same gene in different ways. Ex: MAO-alpha variant of gene is associated with antisocial violent behavior but ONLY IF there was childhood abuse; if not then the gene has no effect whatsoever.
46:00 - Environment and ways of living have affected the kinds of religions people have invented. Desert dwellers monotheistic, rain forest dwellers polytheistic, most hunter-gatherers' gods don't care what they do, high density populations invented moralizing gods, pastoralists (to help protect their stealable livestock) came up with cultures of honor built around violent retribution, warrior classes, honor killings, vendettas that stretch for centuries.
55:00 - One of the most remarkable events in WWI was the Christmas Truce of 1914. Soldiers became friends on battlefield, all effects of military training and propaganda evaporated, they only pretended to be trying to shoot, until the officers arrived days later to threaten to shoot them if they don't get back to actually trying to kill each other.
57:00 - One of the things that galvanized the anti-war movement during the Vietnam War in the US more than anything was the Mỹ Lai massacre. Gunship helicopter pilot Hugh Thompson stopped the massacre by threatening to shoot soldiers of his own country when he saw them murdering women and babies in the village, completely changing who was an "us" and who was a "them."
1:01:00 - Free will is what we call the biology that hasn't been discovered yet... We should probably start with the criminal justice system. There are some domains where it is absolutely essential that we do it because basically the science that informed the current criminal justice system is based on neuroscience from the mid 19th century and that's appalling.
1:04:00 - Peer/conformity effects are incredibly strong on children and especially on adolescents.
1:09:00 - About a study by Susan Fiske, which showed that the mind can be rewired within seconds in how it responds to the sight of different races. While imagining the other as an individual, making a guess as to whether or not they might like something, the amygdala doesn't activate because they're too busy thinking about how the other feels.
"Words, brains, bodies, behaviors, cultures and genes all co-evolve... There is no species on earth that is less genetically deterministic than we are."
You're a hero.
Thanks mate
I wish could lecture as effectively as Dr. Sapolsky. He is amazing.
You can. The desire is there. And that’s an awesome thing! Namaste
Begins at 5:00
thanks... always appreciate someone leaving time cue breadcrumbs... I was enjoying the first minute and a half of intro... but... then scrolled ahead to find the 5 min. mark
Thank you
Your an angel
Thank you!
@@solarnaut Hahaha I did the exact same
One of the most brilliant human alive ...
I agree.
The professor is a true genius. He makes us see what he is talking about. Many examples are given.
I wouldn't say all that. he knows the material of his field well and he is an effective teacher, as well as clearly being intelligent. but there's no genius to it.
Thank you for the story about Hugh Clowers Thompson Jr. 57:00. His crew members included Lawrence Manley Colburn and Glenn Urban Andreotta. These are my newest heroes.
I am 17 and I watched it full. Coincidentally enough, I just wanted to know about these stuff but didn't know what to search for. I have to thank UA-cam for this. And thank you more for this sir.I would want to know more about the violence, politic, mindsets of people and why the world operates the way it does and how corrupted things can be solved and innocent lives can be saved. Basically it's all about a revolution for me. Again, thank you so much sir
❤❤❤
I just realized that I watch your videos when I need a counselor. I do right now, but you're so much better than the VA people. Thank you so much for you. You may not know how much you've helped people, and maybe especially Veterans and people that are struggling. I've told so many veterans to watch your videos, don't know if they listened though. Hope they did.
this is not a lecture. its an Enlightnment. humanity needs to rebuild on these foundations.
In an hour and fifteen minutes Professor Sapolsky showed what humanity is, was and what it can be.
Insightful, meaningful perspective on very interesting studies that should be taught throughout our society starting at the high school level. Very well done Sir!
this was extremely interesting. I've actually heard of this guy before and watched some of his lecture videos but this has to be the best one
During the entire lecture, I kept cross referencing moments when I have seen these behavioral ideas in a real world social context. An amazing presentation from a brilliant person. I will definitely check out his books.
I was directed to Sapolsky by a fellow UA-cam commenter on a Dawkins video. What a GEM! Watching this has changed me on an epigenetic level.
Really we need this type of people who so brilliant and good communicator help you to understand science in a broad range . Standford univ is a excellent choice for students who are interested in human biology , neurological sciences .
man I love this guy. I'm sure we disagree on many things but he definitely made me rethink a lot of things.
I’m so Fucking high rn that I’m in tears watching this for the second time again absolutely beautiful talk BUT more importantly thank you Mr Soplsky.
Funny, humble, learned, generous, soft-spoken: a gift for whole humanity.
I can truly watch Professor Sapolsky speak endlessly. I am a truefan.
I've been watching the recordings of his lectures on UA-cam, these exact things were covered extensively in them it amazes me even more how he can bring more insight to those same lessons in a summarized form. The introduction of these buckets and breaking free of them or applying their framework then relating them to other frameworks has become such a great tool.
OK, after listening to the end... thank you Robert Sopolsky. Listening to you is a grace, thank you for being born and sharing. Live long and prosper!!! Thank you.
"it's about the pursuit of the reward than about the reward itself." 🤩
Wow...finally I found what I was looking for, I wanted to understand my behavior and juggling all over the places looking for right context or spritual Guru and somehow I bumped into Prof Sapolsky's Stanford lecture series....and it changed my life
I mean now I can completely understand why i feel low, horrible , anxiety, depressed or happy 😀 or in that context all human being....
And now I am regretting why I did not study human behaviour 🙈
But...thank you so much Stanford and other sources for putting Prof Saposky's lecture/interviews and broden my horizone to understand me and my behavior...
Wish I could meet him once in my lifetime 🤞
"Nothing fuels dopamine like maybe" that got me quick.
Me too. What does it mean?
None of us should ever underestimate the power of possibilities. We all have coping mechanisms, strategies of dealing with adversities, and various optimistic outlooks, and some are healthy and some are not so healthy or even down right destructive. At the end of the day we should yurn to seek out what makes us fulfilled and rings that special bell we all have inside of us. And while we honorably and diligently pursue this we take care to be considerate to others that may not be equipped to do this. It sounds so incredibly simplified and really easy when spoken with words, but in reality it is a baffling and staggeringly impossible task to perceive much less actually do in reality. At the end of time none of us are exact in what will happen, of this I know despite what any one person or group of people profess or speak or write. Anything is possible. What will happen is of no consequence at all, it means nothing. What does matter is what you really were, not that one thing I did once or for awhile, but who was I?
We are all like a wanderer on a large beach looking for beautiful or interesting seashells or rocks to add to our strange little collection of seashells and rocks that no one else just us, cares about. At the end of that day It won’t matter what we’ve added or removed from that collection, it will only matter who and what we really were, as we picked up those seashells and rocks. I don’t mean life is a test, pass or fail, or anything like this because I simply don’t believe this. If this were the case, man’s ability to rationalize would take it anywhere. Where you were born, where you lived, your parents, what kind of school you went to, the people you were close to, what your skin color was, how you prayed, I think you get it. I do think there is something else far better, wiser, fairer, and kinder than we are as humans at the end of time. Our job as humans either by design or chance, better or worse is to truly find ourselves individually, which may be more difficult than we can consider or have the ability to. There are too many ways for a person to get distracted, or reason, or even have the time and arguably even the natural or biological ability to achieve or access this. It also could be too simple even easy for our limited, or complicated minds or souls, take your pick. ( the arrogant, ego driven, lost, self righteous, unsure, judges, soldiers of a side…., emotional diagnosis yx123, confident, achieved an understanding, or the misguided, the confused)- this is your designated time to jump or chime in.
I’ve been on sides in the past, I’ve worn worn different hats figuratively and literally at times. The only side I hope in the future that I ever choose will be the human side. I hope I never loose sight of this I really do. There is no better way to relate, bond over, become friends, share humor over, than to live and breathe and go thru this unbelievably surreal strange good and bad life together. I consider you all my brothers and sisters and whatever pronouns or more accurate descriptions I can use. There is no us and them, no yeah but…, or all except, you are all my family in this thing we call with a word life. I want the absolute best for each and every one of you, I really do. Chances are that not many at all, if anyone will read this, it doesn’t matter if it is like that. If you are all by yourself you are not alone. I am by myself but I choose to see there are others figuratively and literally. I want good for all of you even if I don’t know any of you. I choose to speak it forth out into the universe. I don’t have time, resources, clout, or pull to really make anything happen for anyone except maybe a little pet, but I choose to speak wonderful things to happen to everyone whether you read this or not. Be open to the possibility and consider that what you think you need, that you may in fact not need it at all. Sometimes I thought I needed something and when I got it, the only thing I found out is that I didn’t need it at all and I had given up other things to get it that I in ways needed those things I had taken for granted or forsaken in pursuit of that thing. I have possessed or had many things you name it here……. I had it. Those things, whatever you thought of when I said that, did not truly matter as I look back and reflect on my life. I do see things I wish I had done, if I had it to do over and you cannot live there. You just can’t do anything about it and you certainly cannot live there. As you walk through your life be fearless in the since you won’t get another opportunity. Fight against any impulse at all of “I don’t want to end up old with regrets or wishing I could go back and do what I thought I should have done.” Anything is literally possible, ANYTHING. If you are an unusual person with a specific disadvantage, this is all the more reason you should do it. You will most likely succeed because of that disadvantage because of it in some strange way they can’t describe yet but we know why it happens 100 years from now. I want the best for all of you. Figure out what you truly want and need and go get it, it is yours to be had, it won’t be as nearly as hard as you thought it was looking back, it just won’t I promise and give you my assurance, I’m telling you from my own experience. While we are all succeeding we must remember to keep in focus to treat others like we would like to be treated. This is a cornerstone of every decent faith or spiritualism (whichever you chose). We don’t have the freedom to crush anyone indiscriminately just because they are in the way. Let your heart guide you. It’s ok to win, but define for yourself in your heart what is winning and what is not. Some cliches in life are true, “the best things in life are free” “you can do anything you want” “you get only one go around in life” “money isn’t everything” “we need each other more than we can understand” “you can’t always get what you want, but if you try you get what you need” and my opinion “love is the best thing we can do and always the answer”.
I’m sure I have the slight appearance of being nuts and if that’s the case then so be it. We need each other. If you feel weird, I promise you that everyone else is weird too especially the person you’re thinking of now. If you feel sad, it will pass better times are ahead. It’s ok to seek help, just reach out and never give up. There aren’t any absolutes, everything is variable to some degree, if not alot. Even in your darkest hour, know that things will change and everything does change especially your feelings. Always remember to have empathy towards others, the hardest thing in this world is to live this life, in this we are all equal and we are all family in every way. Again, I am praying, hoping, wishing, agreeing, for you to be happy, fullfilled, to be both loved and to give love. I hope everyone (including myself)finds true purpose and fulfillment and what their meaningful purpose is in this life. It is said “some people have to win, some people have to lose” I don’t believe that. I do think that for me at 52yo, I’ve had to completely reconsider and rethink what my whole idea of what winning was in the first place and this is where I am now. I would urge you to rethink what you are putting your efforts towards and know why your doing it, what is it you truly want, who are you and what would truly make you happy more than anything else. Nothing is an obstacle once you have figured out your dream, you can figure out and navigate anything. It will never be a dream again once you’ve achieved it. We are all in this together and we all are in the humankind family despite what anyone says, does, acts, writes, or what sign they carry.
Big deal!!
@@markmartin3152thank you
It's such a delight to watch Robert speaking about seemingly difficult topics, and dissecting it to make it accessible to the wider audience. Also such a terrific speaker!! Phew!! 😄
How could you ask any questions? ....He just perfectly explained EVERYTHING.
Yes, Sino Lamp. I now have another person that I adore. Medium turn goal, Watch all of Robert Sapolsky's lectures.
George Carlin was right. We are barely out of the Jungle.
NeverTethered man I’m a big Carlin fan. Miss him a lot.
@@ekbastu Totally. This whole nonsensical coronavirus hysteria brings his "fear of germs" bit to mind.
@@nevertethered6386 Have you seen the Environment one? "Everybody gonna save something now"
@@ekbastu Yep. "Save the planet? Are these people serious? We haven't even learned to take care of one another and we are gonna save the fucking planet?!"
"The planet is fine. The people are fucked".
One of my favourites, along with almost all the others.
I like the "George Carlin's Greatest Speech" clip especially.
@@nevertethered6386 this reaction to covid is only necessary because the us government has failed at everything. If you want to exist in the public, you must protect eachother, or you can leave because you will kill off the population.
Thank you to Stanford Iranian Studies 🙏🏻🙏🏼🙏🏻
Thanks for making this publicly available!! Amazing lecture and Q&A
He's too smart & I've been binjing on his materials without being a Human Biology student. Since a child, I loved biology more than any other subject so discovering this guy is a real sensation. I wonder if he's Jewish, Russian or Polish... :)
He's parents are jews from former soviet russia
US through and through ;) but as for his heritage, I've wondered that too! USSR incorporated a part of Poland, and his surname doesn't sound typically Russian at all, and much closer to Polish. I wonder if it's possible to know if his grandparents lived in current-day Belarus. mine did, and it would be pretty cool to know how many kilometers away ;D
His opening statement alone should've told you he was a jew
@@davyroger3773 lol. true
one of the most powerful lecturer out There
In some instances a smile is an act of friendship and trust and compassion whereas in some instances it's the same smile that's an act of knowing 'all the bad stuff you could do' and an act of mockery an act of "you are getting on my bad side".
"Free will is the biology we haven't discovered yet" damn right. He's an absolute genius.
Huh? Free will doesnt exist, except through our ignorance of the complexity of the predetermined course past events set us up for and the causal web we create thru that destiny that constitute the future...
Biology? Sounds like malarky to me
@@onelove8062wow even we don't know conciousness you are talking so sure it's just stupid
Everyday I think through the studies of Robert Saposky and I'm...grateful .
"We don't hate violence. We hate the wrong kind of violence." This statement made me look in the mirror--still thinking about it.
Truth!
@@SlothyCrow For real man, who hasn't loved us a little of the *right* type of of violence? Feels good to us. Mighty heavy statements by Dr. Sapolski.
@@uniquechannelnames the right (wing) violence..
SUCH AN ICON . AS ALWAYSS BEING INFORMED BY HIS VOICE . WHEN I ASK A PERSON IF THEY WANT TO FIX THIERSELVES. . . . BEFORE THEY ANSWER YES OR NO, I SAY WATCH THE LECTURES OF Professor Sapolsky play the videos at half speed so you will keep up taking notes and not get burned out replaying bits of the lecture
This is a much more interesting discussion. I enjoy watching this man talk about what he enjoys.
THANKS ! to ALL that have allowed & made it possible for the public to hear this BRILLIANT man !!
"Few things activate the dopamine system more than the prospects of righteous punishment." As Kurt Vonnegut wrote in Mother Night, it's wanting to sin with God on your side.
This man is taking nonstop...admirable... This is what happens if you are interested in what you do...
People who admire him a lot, who else do you recommend discovering who blew your mind in a similar way? Let’s share ideas. My all time favorite is Michael Sandal at Harvard with his lectures on Justice
Hi Nadya, thank you for sharing info on Sandel. Will check him out soon. I recommend Andrew Huberman’s weekly UA-cam podcasts. Like Sapolsky, he teaches neuroscience at Stanford. His podcasts are strictly applicable to everyday life.
@@jamiemorales3299 thank you Jamie!
Well, not in a similar way but Eric Weinstein is quite the unusual character I suppose. As far as biology goes, reading "The selfish gene" blew my 13 year old mind pretty good.
Yuval Noah Harari
Came here from the Stanford lecture videos. What a magnificent human being and the depth knowledge and understanding he has aboout the subject is amazing. Also his sense of humour during classes. Oh just to be his student and attend his lectures. Totally in awe.
Wow! Just WOW! Thanks for sharing this amazing presentation.
Absolutely superb. Incredible content, astonishing delivery, not an umm ahh in the whole thing. This man is a phenomenal communicator.
Robert is on another level. The end of the lecture made me cry
I could listen to this guy all day. Love from Pakistan
Robert Sapolsky is one of my heroes!
an international treasure, this man.
I had to rewatch this video because it's so interesting!
Listening to Dr. SAPOLSKY is priceless 🤩
This is absolutely brilliant 👏 ...this makes me so interested like nothing else...thank you!
Video Title: Exploring the Intersections of Biology, Behavior, and Free Will
Introduction: The Biology Behind Human Behavior
The video explores complex questions surrounding human behavior, free will, and the role of biology in shaping actions and personality. The speaker delves into a nuanced examination of how genetics, brain structures, and environmental factors influence but do not fully determine human behavior. By bridging scientific theory with practical implications, the discussion invites viewers to reflect on the delicate balance between biological determinism and human potential for growth and change.
Part 1: Foundations of Behavioral Biology
Key Themes in Genes, Environment, and Behavior
1. Genetics as Predisposition, Not Determinism
• The speaker opens by emphasizing that while genes are central to our biological framework, they offer predispositions rather than strict behavioral outcomes. This theme sets the stage for examining how genes interact with external factors to influence individual choices and behaviors.
2. Environmental Influence and Developmental Plasticity
• The role of environmental conditions-such as socioeconomic status, cultural norms, and upbringing-is emphasized as equally influential in behavior. The speaker uses the term “epigenetics” to describe how external factors can impact gene expression, providing a mechanism for adaptation and flexibility.
• Brain Plasticity: Discusses how the brain can adapt its connections and processes in response to experiences, which is essential for recovery from trauma, developing empathy, or overcoming harmful habits.
Behavioral Case Studies
1. Aggression and Survival Mechanisms
• Case studies on wartime aggression illustrate how environmental pressures can trigger aggressive behaviors as survival mechanisms, showing aggression not as an inherent trait but as a situational response.
2. Empathy and Altruism
• The concept of empathy is explored through mirror neurons, which simulate others’ emotions, and altruism, which may have evolved to ensure kin and group survival. Altruism, while seemingly selfless, is presented as biologically advantageous.
3. Addiction and Dopamine Reward Pathways
• Addiction serves as an example of biological mechanisms gone awry, where reward pathways in the brain are manipulated by substances, leading to compulsive behavior. This section discusses dopamine’s role in reinforcing certain actions and how addiction disrupts self-control.
The Brain and Behavioral Regulation
1. Amygdala and Instinctive Fear
• The amygdala’s role in processing fear is covered, particularly its function in quick, instinctive responses to potential threats. This segment links innate fears (e.g., of snakes or spiders) with evolutionary survival needs.
2. Frontal Cortex and Long-Term Decision-Making
• The frontal cortex allows individuals to assess consequences and make long-term decisions. The speaker contrasts impulsive reactions, governed by the amygdala, with the rationalization capabilities of the frontal cortex.
3. Prefrontal Cortex in Adolescence
• The delayed development of the prefrontal cortex in teenagers explains why adolescents are more prone to impulsivity and peer influence, reinforcing the powerful role of social dynamics in shaping young individuals.
Part 2: Advanced Concepts in Human Change and Free Will
The Flexibility of Human Identity and Social Behavior
1. Tribalism and Group Perception
• The concept of “us vs. them” is rooted in evolutionary psychology, reflecting a survival instinct to categorize individuals. However, this instinct often manifests as irrational biases in modern society.
• The speaker contends that these biases are malleable; social interactions and diverse environments can recondition one’s perception of others.
2. Peer Influence and Identity
• In adolescence, peer influence significantly shapes identity, with teenagers relying on others’ perceptions to define themselves. This developmental stage underscores the strength of conformity and group dynamics in personal identity formation.
Biology and Free Will: Examining Human Autonomy
1. The Free Will Debate
• The speaker expresses skepticism about free will, suggesting that “free will” may simply represent biological processes not yet understood. According to this view, behaviors often attributed to choice could be heavily shaped by genetics and environmental conditioning.
2. Implications for Society
• If free will is indeed an illusion, society must reconsider its approach to justice, rehabilitation, and individual responsibility. The speaker calls for an updated criminal justice system that reflects current neuroscience, rather than relying on outdated models based on 19th-century ideas.
3. Conditioned Responses and Racial Perception
• The video discusses conditioned responses, particularly in the context of racial perception, noting that people who grew up in diverse environments exhibit lower fear or bias responses in the amygdala. This suggests that personal experiences can alter conditioned behaviors, even if initial biases seem hardwired.
Cutting-Edge Neuroscience and Moral Implications
1. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Decision-Making
• TMS, a technology used to stimulate or inhibit specific brain regions, is presented as a groundbreaking research tool that shifts our understanding from correlation to causation. By influencing specific brain areas, scientists can observe how moral and rational decisions are altered, highlighting the brain’s control over behavioral tendencies.
2. Ethics and Potential for Behavioral Manipulation
• The speaker notes that TMS has far-reaching ethical implications, as the ability to influence decisions raises concerns about manipulation and consent. While currently a research tool, the potential for behavioral influence evokes both excitement and caution about its future uses.
Conclusion: The Intersection of Science, Behavior, and Society
Biological Potential for Change
While biology plays a critical role in shaping behavior, the speaker asserts that understanding and awareness of our biological predispositions can empower individuals to enact personal and societal change. The potential for neuroplasticity and behavioral flexibility underscores the idea that human beings, while influenced by biology, are not solely defined by it.
Societal Responsibility and Scientific Awareness
The speaker emphasizes the importance of applying scientific insights to improve social structures, particularly the justice system, mental health care, and educational policies. By recognizing how biology influences behavior, society can foster more compassionate, effective, and scientifically grounded approaches to address issues like addiction, violence, and social bias.
Final Thoughts on Human Potential and Transformation
Ultimately, the video leaves viewers with a call to study and appreciate instances of profound human change. By examining how individuals overcome adversity and demonstrate resilience, we can better understand the interplay of biology and free will-and perhaps unlock the keys to repeat such transformations in our own lives.
This combined summary offers a complete view of the video, capturing its extensive insights into human biology, the debate over free will, and the practical implications for personal and societal growth. Let me know if you’d like further breakdowns of specific sections or insights on any part.
I've seen this guy before. On the Mind and Life Institute videos where he's explaining his scientific findings to the Dalai Lama. He's brilliant.
Finally. Science that has practical application to the present and offers actual solutions.
says someone comfortably watching a recorded video shared over internet, all the while using electricity. But yea, FINALLY science has some application :\
This scholar’s lecture made me into flow great research topic and very in-depth.
Great lecture by great socio biologist his speed speech splendid splash of human brain is incredible it was great day. Best wishes.
He makes such great points about human behavior.
The clearest speaker to inspire learning thank you Sir
Finally someone intelligent enough that I don’t need to play the video at 2x speed. Thankyou Robert 😀
I could literally listen to him talk all day long
Mr. Sapolsky should make merch!
To Stanfird Iranian Studies Program: van you in future improve through always provide a Roaming Mic..
To Robert Sapolosky Brilliant contextualisation of the provocative challenges ahead and thanks to your dedication ...It deserves a Nobel Nobel Award....
This guy is not only wonderful but kind
Only just doing rhe lessons what a genius he can teach a subject and makes it enjoyable
A thought-provoking and eloquent lecture from Sapolsky, as always. Did anyone catch the questions at the end? I can't hear what is being asked.