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Behave

Behave

By Robert Sapolsky

The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst. Penguin Press, 2017.

0.0 / 0

21 mins read

17 Key insights

A brief summary of Behave

A deep exploration of how biology affects human behavior and decision-making, written by a neurobiologist armed with research and hard data that demonstrates how genetics and culture influence our actions.

Key insights in Behave

1
What do you get from this book? A thorough explanation of the many factors that drive human behavior
2
Behavior results from a combination of biological and environmental influences; the “Triune Brain” plays a large role in this
3
The hypothalamus, frontal cortex, and amygdala are all connected through various neurotransmitters
4
Behaviorism and ethology are popular—though opposite—psychological theories that attempt to explain why we behave the way we do
5
Hormones affect aggression while neurons and synapses have “high plasticity” that helps form memories
6
Children develop in four stages that concern logic, reasoning, and empathy leading to the “Theory Of Mind”
7
A teenager’s brain is still maturing, causing moodiness and risk-taking behavior as unneeded cells die away and reasoning takes hold
8
Genes influence behavior, but to a limited extent—culture, ecology, and environment play a much larger role
9
Evolution influences our “Us/Them” dichotomy, relying on “Selfish Genes” to help us reproduce
10
Human hierarchies develop based on physical, internal, and arbitrary traits that push us toward the common good
11
Morality is closely tied to culture, intuition, and empathy, each of which activates different areas of our brain
12
Metaphors activate the parts of our brain associated with disgust and immorality, making abstract thinking difficult
13
The criminal justice system should be reformed to account for biological factors that outweigh free will
14
Though wars and prejudice still exist, humanity’s good behavior continues to improve while bad behavior continues to decline
15
Summary of the key insights
16
Selected critiques in brief
17
Final word

Who should read Behave

Scientists • educators • legal professionals • behaviorists • psychologists • anyone interested in learning more about human behavior

About the author of Behave

Professor Robert Sapolsky holds a PhD in neuroendocrinology from Rockefeller University. He is the recipient of the MacArthur Fellowship Genius Grant, the John P. McGovern Award for Behavioral Science, and several other distinguished awards. His work has been featured on National Geographic and in The New York Times. Sapolsky teaches neurology and biology at Stanford University.

author avatar

Robert Sapolsky

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