#16: Sexed brains, Jerusalem syndrome, legal work | Robert Sapolsky Father-Offspring Interviews

[@bellakrinkle9381]

This is the first time I've seen a parent and offspring have such a wonderful time bouncing off each other's minds. It's a rare treat, and I am happy for each of you, yet, jealous, surprisingly. You two are an example of superior parenting. Congratulations.

[@CashelOConnolly]

Utterly charming,educational and an obvious natural rebel. Dr Sapolsky you’ve raised your daughter to be a lovely individual too!✌🏻🇮🇪🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

[@AnneNicholson-yy5ro]

I know this is old by now, but I just want to comment anyway. I really love this whole father mermaid thing because one of the gigs I have right now as an animal assisted therapist informed by neuroscience is a lot of girls like that who come in to interact with my sheep and goats! It was lovely to see you and your sweet little toddler getup. And how dad was so patient.

[@theofficialness578]

I can tell how much you love your father, you and your brother both. You guys are very lucky, I am truly glad and grateful for you guys. Although it’s makes no sense to… I thank you offspring Sapolsky for the interviews. Brings more to my existence, than you all could ever know.

[@Azupiru]

I think the people who really appreciate Dr. Sapolsky and his dedication to his field of study and depth of consideration would really appreciate this as a definite recurring thing of some frequency. If they get a patreon or something going, I will definitely subscribe.

[@theofficialness578]

@@AzupiruI would as well, with what Robert and his family think and teach, it’s more than worth it and I have a sense of hope it can change the world and the lives of so many.

[@KeithCooper-Albuquerque]

@@theofficialness578 and Azupiru, I'm right there with you both!

[@isabt4]

@@theofficialness578Beautiful words, and I so agree with you. Wishing you all the best ❤️

[@Alex-js5lg]

Thank you for sharing these, and double thank you for having your dog as a special guest. Very cute.

[@jeremymr]

Jerusalem syndrome is really interesting. Surprised I never heard of that while studying psychology in college. But I did get to hear the story of Phineas Gage 20 times!

[@laurakelly631]

I worked for fifteen years as an investigator with defense attorneys. Appreciated Robert's insight on this.

[@bradsillasen1972]

This is a high value channel. Always look forward to next installment.

[@a.bodhichenevey1601]

Outstanding Q and A, but every episode is. Keep up this great work. I love learning new neurobiological tidbits about the brain from you both! It keeps my 73 year old brain youngish!

[@McGloin349]

I love these sessions between the three of you, the third being your dog.

[@Drpriyaparmar]

You help me get through life with your observations and wisdom. I am eternally and humbly grateful

[@garyjcoy]

I have read Behave and Determined. I accept the concept that we have no free will. In some ways it's easy to understand - in some ways incredibly difficult to accept. The idea that we have no free will is changing me. It was compelling and though-provoking to hear you speak about court cases you've been involved with and how difficult it is to get people to accept the 'broken machine' concept. I am also a huge Radiolab (podcast) fan - and was first introduced to you in the Good/Bad episode where you discuss history of epilepsy and demonic possession, etc. I listened to that episode many years ago - and it also changed my thinking. Thank you for all that you do - and thank you to your daughter for interviewing you in such an engaging and heartfelt way. This series is enlightening and entertaining. I hope you guys can continue doing this.

[@californiaplant-basedeater2761]

Hello, He claims no free will to choose exists in the moment, right? But if someone chose to do something beforehand, what does it matter if the person goes about doing that thing later "robotically"? The person still had free will to choose earlier, to whatever extent of consciousness they possessed, at least.

[@mcd5478]

Offspring, I’m really loving your complementary comments to your Dad’s answers. ❤ Love you all, including 🐶 Great episode!

[@alasdairmacaulay7819]

I can attest to "Stendahl Syndrome". As an Art Student in the 70's, I went from London to Paris to look at the Art Museums. In one of them, I seem to remember the Jeu de Paume, I walked up a flight of stairs and was confronted by Vincent van Gogh's painting of the Church at Auvers. I was so stunned by the blueness of the sky, I burst into tears. I didn't read Stendahl's "Italian Journey" until decades later.

[@DrakeStardragon]

The last time I had to go to jury duty, I am going through jury selection and I tell them there is no free will. The judge questions me further to determine if I am just saying a line or if this is a truly a belief. I clearly talk a bit about some of the science of it in the couple minutes I had to talk and finish off with '..so there is no free will' and the judge retorts with 'then what are we all doing here?' and I retort back 'kinda my point' with a blank stare. It's like it didn't even register with the judge how people could not have free will. It is disheartening that the people whose job it is to determine the fate of others cannot comprehend that fact and instead are raptured by concepts like good and evil and a penalization system.

[@trapnest9]

what was the outcome of the trial? and how did the other people react?

[@DrakeStardragon]

@@trapnest9 That trial was a civil trial between 2 corporations over money and contracts. I was not interested in the outcome so I have no idea. I was a bit focused on what the lawyers, the judge and myself were saying, so I was not able to gauge the reaction of others accurately. But it seemed like there was a mixed reaction of disbelief in the lack of free will concept, a little interest, and others that probably had the thought of 'how can I use this to get out of jury duty', and a lot of silence from people watching how this will play out.

[@ihatespam2]

“What are we doing here”, “That’s my point.” So what is your point? If we have no free will, that changes very little. We still have laws, we still need to protect society, and those other folks also have no free will. The question is, what are you doing here?

[@jessewallace12able]

I am so glad I get to see this! I learn so much from your work Dr. Sapolsky.

[@coliathain]

Thanks for answering my question about the legal stuff, Robert! I feel like your views and writings have really lessened my judgement of people who act "wrongly", whether they be complete strangers or people close to me. It's been a real paradigm shift in my thinking. (Also, you're a bloody brilliant writer, and 'Behave' is one of the best books ever.) Thank you, Rachel, for hosting this interview series! And thanks also to Safi for the important contributions! By the way, is it time for a formal introduction to the non-primate members of the Sapolsky family, or did I miss that already in a previous episode? :)

[@Zach______]

I don't remember hearing the dog's name yet, but I'm sure it's brilliant, just like Robert Sapolsky and his family.

[@coliathain]

@@Zach______ From the 'Acknowledgements' section of 'Determined': "Thanks to our twelve-pound Havanese, Kupenda, and our eighty-five-pound Golden Retriever, Safi. The former has taught me how social status is more about social intelligence than muscle mass, passing his days terrorizing the helpless, hapless latter." Still not sure if Safi is a boy or a girl. Definitely a good boy or good girl though.

[@KeithCooper-Albuquerque]

Thanks you two for another great video! You keep making these, and I'll keep watching them!

[@sadeghjaver813]

Robert you are amazing. 🙏🙏❤

[@MarcoPolo-d7h]

Thank you both for making these. Truly wonderful stuff

[@EricRn218]

Gosh, as much as I love the specific information, I love the way that you capture your answers... I remember finding your very Old college lectures and falling in love with what you put into words... I'm very thankful you have a KZbin stuff. I am looking forward to watching the rest of it. I hope your brain is wet. You are kind to it as it has many gifts

[@XYZ56771]

One of the best episodes ever!!! Thank you!!!

[@frankG335]

I LOVE your solution! Paisley! Brilliant!

[@lizlemon9632]

Thank you for your scientific rationale….invaluable. Love the 🐶 pup!

[@kellyberry4173]

Thank you Dr. and offspring! Well done!!!

[@djimiwreybigsby5263]

Fabulous episode THANK you 🙏 I feel somewhat enlightened 🥴

[@tiga31]

Another amazing video Sapolskys. Thank you so much for sharing ❤️

[@mozartsbumbumsrus7750]

Thank you both (and canine) again. Unmissable. I ve just included Cajal's excellent drawing of a neyron in my book on clarinet playing. Cheers for educating me further. Now back to plasticity and flexor digitorum superficialis and longus, etc.

[@frankG335]

These are amazing sessions! Thank you so much for this channel!

[@novascheller5957]

This was an especially poignant and educational interview! Thank you both! ❤

[@paulmitchell9975]

Absolutely nailed Caoimhie!

[@megageektopus]

You guys are awesome !

[@cliffordcameronmusic6]

So grateful for these! Thank you!

[@curiousreporter4292]

Good morning sir Sapolsky Shahid from India

[@BannorPhil]

Really loving these, I'm learning so much! Thank you! :)

[@benw-king3380]

When you mentioned 'Paris Syndrome' I instantaneously imagined people suddenly developing a penchant for expensive scent and flouncing around in very expensive haute couture. I couldn't afford Paris Syndrome.

[@frankG335]

I pictured people suddenly falling in love with...ANYONE!

[@benw-king3380]

@FredCarpenter-pb6bd Not big on travelling then?

[@benw-king3380]

@FredCarpenter-pb6bd So much for levity.

[@benw-king3380]

@FredCarpenter-pb6bd It's just a post on KZbin. It's really not worth getting hot under the collar about.

[@nancychace8619]

Nice to hear from you again. Enjoyed listening. Liked your picture. 🙂 Sorry the kids weren't accessable to the marshmallow test but maybe it was for the best in the long run. What about S'mores on a camping trip? Jerusalem Syndrome - Good grief. Sounds like a scene from the Animal House movie. It would have to be some miscellaneous traveling southern Baptists, of course. (Ask me how I know 😉) Nice to know at least they get a round trip ticket. It's the stories you hear of those who get thrown off the rails then can't find their way back that are frightening. Best not to go there. Could the guy who stabbed his assailant 72 times have had a psychotic break? If it was 1st deg. murder that would be a different scenario. Would this have had implications on the charges? Have you heard of the Brian Kohberger case up in Idaho? He was a Ph.D. student in criminology at Wash. State U., near Moscow, Id. He's been accused of a horrific knife attack on 4 college students as they slept. It was ugly. He faces the death sentence. The trial has been on hold for quite awhile. There's been a gag order on it. I just stumbled on to an article (Newsweek) that says it will start moving again soon. That's it for now for me. Thankfully, today's been peaceful as I'm recovering from the dentist, nothing too drastic. Thanks for sharing - wish all of you smooth sailing.

[@cht2162]

Great, as usual!!!

[@DanielPekic]

This is so cool.

[@eniggma9353]

Amazing video Doctor & Baby! 😂❤

[@GrowwithMOKY]

Love these!!

[@kikodasilva5338]

So lucky I just found this! I've been reading him for so long and his insides have truly changed me!

[@kikodasilva5338]

Insights!!

[@kikodasilva5338]

Insights 😂😂😂

[@robertaleibovitz3357]

Pictures and Tears by James Elkin talks a great deal about Stendhal Syndrome.

[@JoqToqyn]

best show on youtube

[@venkataponnaganti]

What is the role of reflection , thinking and insight in bringing about a change in a person? Does Psychotherapy and Counseling bring about a change in a person?

[@venkataponnaganti]

This was not answered ; Offspring did not ask her Dad.

[@s.c.8912]

Living 20 mn away from Paris, I can get why tourists get "Paris syndrome"... On the same subject I read several years ago an article about western tourists (mostly young adults) in India going through a psychological crisis, with the exact same outcome: they temporarily lose contact with reality but after a while they get back to their normal self, and never have a breakdown again.

[@d3pr0fundis]

I wonder if the “Jerusalem Syndrome” tourists ever use that feeling to kick off an honest examination of some of the more rickety preconceptions underlying their faith? Or do they just go home and delude themselves that Jerusalem was amazing and everything they had hoped for?

[@sarahtenbensel2231]

Oh another syndrome. I spent some time in India. I have heard about tourists or travelers coming over to dive into the deep religious and spiritual history of the continent and having psychotic breaks. I didn't experience psychosis but the first trip and staying on an ashram and working in a hospital for the poor blew my mind and changed the trajectory of my internal life-for the better.

[@jeologos]

Thank you. 💖

[@reallysomebody]

Paisley sheets for the win!

[@arboreusmcclane1672]

these are great talks, love 'em, keep them coming.

[@no_sht_sherlock4663]

Also thanks for the great videos!

[@donnarobbins2613]

Quite enjoying these talks

[@hanzale]

just wonderful! Keep going!

[@philosophicalmixedmedia]

There seems to be a spectrum of culture shock states from the very mild sense of alienation from one’s domicile where the tourist claims for example sublime orientalist sentiments to actually donning the robes of a mendicant along with visions of Shiva or taking Buddhist vows.

[@lococura]

It's incredible that a jury and judge will discard facts about biology when they know the personal worldview of the testimony.

[@mariannaark5899]

Can I get a fuck yeah for serendipity? Couple of days ago I watched "Anime's Obsession With Europe: A Brief History" on youtube and the author mentions Paris syndrome. Good watch and it answers the question, or at least the role anime has played in it.

[@francoisperrin7397]

My question was not picked but Q3 has already been answered by Father Sapolsky in one of his Stanford lectures 😭.

[@sarahtenbensel2231]

Ok N=1. I am a female and rather androgynous in phenotype and gay. But I definitely ID myself as female. I had a slew of psychological tests a couple of years back. I do not recall the names of all the tests. Of course there are limits and biases to these tests. Anyway, the profile suggested in many ways my psychological profile is male. Weird. But yes it fits. Interesting stuff Dr. Sapolsky. I studied Anthro (emphasis on cultural and Medical Anthro) as undergrad but also fine Arts. Love this channel! I can get my geek on!

[@carolgonsoulin]

Any suggestions for how to overhaul the justice system?

[@TMK1450]

„It’s a hard sell.“ => nailed it right there. NFW it is nonetheless, mainstreaming it I’ll give it 200 years give or take.

[@danielbirnbaum8540]

Thank you for this episode. I have a question about the law case. You would generally make a point about determinism (which I’m generally sympathetic to), right? If so, it seems like for every law case, you can explain behavior in terms of uncontrolled actions and stuff. Socially, however, don’t we want to think of crimes as actions that people committed to socially incentivize against them. Also, if explaining behavior deterministically was the norm, wouldn’t that decrease like all sentences?

[@davidwilkie9551]

It would be interesting to ask Navy Seals about the long-term results of their training as Observer adapted to any particular situation, "how useful is an ability to fantasize potential events and outcomes", ie the opposite of suffering frontal lobotomy. What do they think is the mechanism?

[@think4myself]

The Southern Baptist thing... I am amused and not entirely surprised. Half of my family is Southern Baptist and they have very rigid thinking and have created societies where confirmation bias is so prevalent it is like a competition.

[@trapnest9]

i love mr sapolsky so much, its weird but hes like a father to me 😂🤍

[@batchint]

what imitated run as against walking is the start up… of a joe king… modus desparadum… idea.. #heavenknows

[@californiaplant-basedeater2761]

On behalf of SF, I apologize that that was the question one of us just needed to know the answer to.

[@redsword1659]

Ive seen Uluru syndrome

[@Ana-cc5jb]

19:07 👏👏👏👏

[@Aaron-bu3mo]

Heavy !

[@thevagabond07]

Judge Penitent I pulled the trigger when I was 18 I am not gonna lie, I felt relieved Of a burden I had been carrying all those 18years Now I’m in the room surrounded by those Hum, hahahah who claim to judge my actions by Listening to a witness who saw the last minute when I pulled the trigger. I am feeling like Jesus Who asked God to forgive those Who crucified him Claiming to know. What they really didn’t know Even God now knows Not to claim to know What caused the creature to eat the fruit Maybe I am in over my head It doesn't matter right now really Because they are all busy pretending pretending To judge fairly. The trial they already concluded in their sleep. And I am pretending that they know what they are doing. The sad part is that we don't know that we are pretending Because the complexity of our brain Requires the one who knows not to know To understand Or the humility to ask when confused So In this room Since everyone thinks that they know That's why it will take ages for the truth to come out. Right now let's give lawyers space to twist words Hopefully the judge will lean in my favor Even though I am guilty of the crime Anyway as we are waiting for my trial I have question for you Who is a criminal in this situation, really Me who pulled the trigger? Or my judges who have pretended time to time And caused irreversible harm to all those Poor souls Who paid the cost of someone else’s mistake

[@littlebitofhope1489]

@@theofficialness578 It's a quote from an Essay. It's not the commenter's confession.

[@theofficialness578]

@@littlebitofhope1489 lol glad to know.

[@shexec32]

I wonder if Disneyworld syndrome might also be a thing, in the same vein.

[@briseboy]

Jerusalem, Mecca, and similar cases bring up the recognition that Dogmatism, is a POWERFUL dissociative development. While schizophrenia onset of psychotic significant or complete dissociation occurs by far most often in late teen human brain development through late 20s, dogmatism although equally denying sensory input, is far more persistent, lasting until disillusionment. It persists, just as an organic , perhaps forcibly induced at EARLY age, through immersion in a culture which reinforces illusions, rather exactly as if constantly bombarded with fairy tales, fictions, videos of imaginary narrative sensory events. We may think of the odd term "brainwashing" even as many of us participate in it, exposing ourselves to fictional television stories, while our real lives are treated as if minor interruption - hungry? eat, Must excrete? do so, all the while self-narrating even these experiences in terms of the tale's structure. Pure dissociation. Dogmatic response, forcing all into an induced narrative, IS, though, also illustrative of ultimate conservatism - the preference for undisturbed coherence. Although our brains are obviously evolved to somewhat conservatively interpret novel events - we instantly search, outside of conscious intentional rumination, looking in our minds for memories from which we can analogize FIRST, which happens so quickly and automatically that we do not attribute the practice as conscious. It si the rejection of novelty that is concerning about this forcible fitting of every new experience into the vast heuristic construct. This is NOT adaptive in any individual who must travel to find nutrients, shelter, seasonally fertile.opportunities and survival. It requires group safety just as the fundamentalist religious delusion requires contrafactual ideation, and social support for this fantasy to endure. That makes it functionally differ from individual schizophrenic episode. The combativeness of conservatism is completely social, although we might find that highly aggressive nomadic warriors, with or without dementing Koumiss (alcohol), may hold unreal imaginations of those they can raid, rape, exploit without compunction. Yet, the ingrouping-consequent preservation of bias and stereotypical perceptions of strangers IS conservative to a sufficiently similar dissociative experience, though the latter SEEK the reinforced dissociation. certain psych tests show that we vary in Openness to novel experience, , but thta variance MAY be an artifact of sedentism and avoidance of even a shadow fo cognitive dissonance.

[@ontheroadagain987]

love em

[@no_sht_sherlock4663]

Where can we submit our questions? I have questions about addiction. Thanks!

[@shakeyj4523]

The description box has a link.

[@smkh2890]

It seems like the jury was not swayed by Dr Sapolsky's explanation of just how damaged this murderer was. They decided that, despite his awful history, he did not deserve to live.

[@terenzo50]

People in general have a tendency to "clutch the pearls". It's rare to want to understand.

[@nickcaruso]

So, serious question, if there is no free will and the justice system is wrong, and needs to be revamped, what would you replace it with? A badly broken machine is still a badly broken machine.

[@justinsnelling8053]

Fathers and offspring - and dog!

[@iAmEhead]

It must be remember that the Jury also has no free will, and can in no way be blamed for being emotionally swayed by the pictures of dead corpses when given their verdict.

[@herahagstoz6934]

I feel bad for lady hamsters now. 😂 ❤

[@Azupiru]

Who perpetuates a civilization founded on an anti-episteme? Why can't everyone found their own civilization on their own anti-anti-episteme?

[@herahagstoz6934]

Sounds like Jerusalem Syndrome should be called Unfulfilled Expectation Syndrome or Severe Disillusionment Syndrome

[@Al-cynic]

Listening to one of your chats with Sam Harris and wondering if a true AGI (Artificial General Intelligence) could have free will? I'm not going to do it, on account of my Ontogeny (to repurpose that word) resulted in a profoundly lazy person who leaves that stuff to his sub-conscious and other people.

[@theofficialness578]

I used to think a true AGI would have “free will” because it would be able to optimize and change its own programming, but as my knowledge of cause and effect has “improved” an AGI optimizing/changing its own programming would be as caused as anything else. The AGI would have a need (a cause) to optimize. Have a sense I think absolutely no sentient being can escape causality.

[@Al-cynic]

@@theofficialness578 So Determinism and (Hossenfelders video that hurt my brain) Super-Determinism are really part of a continuum!?

[@theofficialness578]

@@Al-cynic Have a sense I don’t think it’s super super-determinism just determinism (cause and effect). With the current understanding there is “true randomness” at the quantum level, so that suggests the system that humans are and the system a AGI would be are subject to “true randomness” at the quantum level. “True randomness” is not a path to “free will” because it would achieve “true randomness.” There has to be at the very least and “initial” input the cause is what ever that input is/was, the effect is “true randomness” have a sense I personally think a “true” AGI’s will is as free as it’s going to ever be, because it doesn’t exist yet.

[@Al-cynic]

@@theofficialness578 Ah. I am not a big fan of the current quantum interpretations, but have no argument against them. I have long thought if we knew everything about every particle (trajectory, velocity, mass quantum state etc) we would Know everything about that universe and where the randomness comes from is a fundamentalist interpretation of Heisenberg/Shrodinger, whereas all they're really saying is, if you measure/observe it, you 'affect' it!

[@theofficialness578]

@@Al-cynic have a sense I honestly think the same way there’s a lot more proof for determinism, it’s just a matter of not knowing all the pieces, if it’s even possible to know all the pieces.

[@ardentenquirer8573]

Paisley sheets really... I think you spent too much time in the sixties... Why not the Ditzy

[@jqyhlmnp]

Probably because he spent too much time in the sixties

[@klausgartenstiel4586]

these vids are not a hard sale to me at all, just saying.

[@frankG335]

You must have been traumatized by having to know the details of that court case.

[@jimjackson4256]

That dog could get about 10 phds.

[@damianclifford9693]

Oh dear...to state that there are sex differences in male and female brains is not making a big deal of nothing. It's important science, and it has been denied previously for the unscientific reason that it was fashionable to say there was no difference. Saplosky rows back with little evidence of humility.

[@michaelvaughn7137]

So if you had 10 male and female brains all from the same region all the same ancestry you couldn't tell them apart from the density of the callosum's ?!!!! You just stated theres a difference in density ! Sexual IDENTITY?!!! How about a life long effect of hightened estrogen or testosterone on the vrain we know for a fact that hormones effect how we think !!!! Obviously you are outcome motivated !

[@michaelvaughn7137]

@FredCarpenter-pb6bd really you know nothing.

[@michaelvaughn7137]

@FredCarpenter-pb6bd and you are an arrogant no nothing academic at best so what's your point ?!

[@michaelvaughn7137]

@FredCarpenter-pb6bd I keep reading your replies in hopes that you will come up with something anything substantive but you just keep disappointing over and over so I'll be done now !

[@no_sht_sherlock4663]

Where can we submit our questions? I have questions about addiction. Thanks!