Behave
By Robert Sapolsky
The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst. Penguin Press, 2017.
Summary of Behave book by Robert Sapolsky
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.
Chapters in Behave book summary
What do you get from this book? A thorough explanation of the many factors that drive human behavior
Behavior results from a combination of biological and environmental influences; the “Triune Brain” plays a large role in this
The hypothalamus, frontal cortex, and amygdala are all connected through various neurotransmitters
Behaviorism and ethology are popular—though opposite—psychological theories that attempt to explain why we behave the way we do
Hormones affect aggression while neurons and synapses have “high plasticity” that helps form memories
Children develop in four stages that concern logic, reasoning, and empathy leading to the “Theory Of Mind”
A teenager’s brain is still maturing, causing moodiness and risk-taking behavior as unneeded cells die away and reasoning takes hold
Genes influence behavior, but to a limited extent—culture, ecology, and environment play a much larger role
Evolution influences our “Us/Them” dichotomy, relying on “Selfish Genes” to help us reproduce
Human hierarchies develop based on physical, internal, and arbitrary traits that push us toward the common good
Morality is closely tied to culture, intuition, and empathy, each of which activates different areas of our brain
Metaphors activate the parts of our brain associated with disgust and immorality, making abstract thinking difficult
The criminal justice system should be reformed to account for biological factors that outweigh free will
Though wars and prejudice still exist, humanity’s good behavior continues to improve while bad behavior continues to decline
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
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Behave — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read Behave book
- legal professionals
- behaviorists
- psychologists
- anyone interested in learning more about human behavior
About the author of Behave
Robert Sapolsky
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.
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