The biology of the behaviours that interest us is, in all cases multifactorial - that is the thesis of this book. Our behaviours are constantly shaped by an array of subterranean forces, most of these forces involve biology that, not that long ago, we didn't know existed.
Just by knowing someone, who's living in an individualistic or collectivist culture, there is some predictability. In an individualistic culture, when depressed people talk to a friend for relief, they're likely to talk about their problem, whereas in collective cultures they're likely to ask about a friend's problem. in an individualistic society, they live by guilt, in a collectivist, they live by Shame.
Let's review some facts. The amygdala typically activates when seeing the face of another race. If you're poor, by the time you're five, your frontal cortical development probably lags behind average. Oxytocin makes us crappy to strangers. Empathy doesn't particularly translate into compassionate acts, nor does refined moral development translate into doing the harder, right thing. In particular settings, gene variants make you prone to antisocial acts.
All this makes one mighty pessimistic. Yet the rationale for this book is that there's a ground for optimism.
Sapolsky's subtle humour and little bits of light-hearted sarcasm fill the book and make it fun to read. Let's do an in-depth tour of this book below.
Robert Sapolsky invokes interest and curiosity right from the start - talking about how we are very conflicted in our beliefs – especially we condemn many acts of violence, but do support others. I have to admit I have many conflicts I am unable to resolve myself – such as the fact that I find very impressive the progress that science has made as detailed in this book, and yet I am very pained that much of this has come with cruel experiments on animals.
The organisation of the book is very logical – it traces an action from when it happens, to moments before, months/years before and potentially several years earlier in cases. Experiments show that there are several markers in our brain which light up, before we take any action. So the big question (which the book Homo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari explores as well) – do we really have free will? Do we have the ability to stop when the natural instinct kicks in? As it turns out, much of how we act is a result of a multitude of factors – events which have happened at any time previously - sometimes well in the past, our genes, environment, and many others, some of it still to be determined. This has extremely important implications for law enforcement as well.
There are excellent examples: eg: when you compliment a child on good work, telling them they are clever vs telling them they are hardworking invokes very different responses. While we appreciate empathy – the ability to step into and feel the others experience, empathy stalls action. Compassion is more effective. The discussion around how the brain responds to meditation are alluded to – though I think it deserved far more coverage. There are also other interesting lessons around how judges and juries decide punishment based on a number of factors which logic says should have no bearing.
The issues of “Us” vs “Them” is discussed in detail, and deservedly so. Our brain instantly associates some faces as “Us” and some others as “Them”. We develop this categorisation over time and this association is very strong in adulthood and near impossible to get over. While this is true even in animals, our behaviours are more complex. The “Us” categorisation could be based on country, language, religion, colour, and others. The natural tendency is to think in terms of aggregate labels rather than as individuals, accounting for much of our biases.
This is a big book, and one for which I should have taken notes. But I did not. Since there is a wealth of important information, I expect I will have to revisit the book again – when I feel I am forgetting its contents.
Categories are arbitrary. Humans like to divide things up: neurology or endocrinology? Us or them? Biology relates to everything physiological and cultural--there are no true distinctions. We live on spectrum of genetic variability and environmental pressure. Hormones do not control us, they enhance existing behaviors. Yeah, oxytocin makes you sympathetic... towards the in-group and can actually enhance xenophobia and tribalism. Absolutely nothing is determined about how you are going to behave.
The greatest crime-fighting tool is the 30th birthday. Frontal cerebral development does not mature until well into the mid twenties. Testosterones does not cause violence--it enhances violent proclivities. Environment is everything. Culture is everything. Did you grow up in an individualistic or collective society? The difference will literally shape the way your brain operates.
