25. Individual Differences

(June 2, 2010) Professor Robert Sapolsky gives the final lecture in the Human Biology 160 class. He uses the lecture to wrap up any loose ends and show how the themes of the class connects without the more complex concepts that were brought up throughout the course.
Stanford University:
www.stanford.edu/
Stanford Department of Biology:
biology.stanford.edu/
Stanford University Channel on KZbin:
/ stanford

[@palmistryslaps]

Dear Standford, it's been a decade since these lectures were released. Please consider sharing another series of lectures from Sapolsky. And thank you for sharing knowledge that benefits the world.

[@Rx7man]

yes, PLEASE!!! I'd like to see a higher level course from Sapolsky!

[@elinannestad5320]

@@Rx7man higher? Really, anything. I bet he cannot feed his cat without reflecting, enjoying, instructing.

[@Rx7man]

@@elinannestad5320 You say that as if it's a bad thing

[@tiagox3275]

@@Rx7man I have the feeling that they meant it as a good thing. Like even if not a higher level, getting anything new from Sapolsky would be good.

[@gr8lampini]

I bet his cat is in a box with the lid closed!

[@guineapig55555]

1st lecture: 3 million views last lecture: 200 thousand youtube university really isn't different from real life

[@scientificalminds9627]

It has gone up by 100,000 in one year.

[@AlexanderStemkowski]

@@scientificalminds9627 Just added up one. Sapolsky for president! What a PERSONALITY.

[@matheusazevedoC]

@@scientificalminds9627 and 2 million for the 1st. still the same

[@tylerdonaldson2804]

It's the power law at work :P

[@claudiapenaranda5592]

So? Compare the millions of people who now have the opportunity to see him to the very few students who had that possibility in the past. That's the most important number.

[@healthwealthharmony4113]

"You don't have to choose between being compassionate and scientific. Do both" These lectures hold so much value- I can't believe they are free.

[@positivepolitics1]

That's science and compassion in practice! 💚

[@michaeldonley7741]

What is this dude name????????

[@darthtyranous4514]

@@michaeldonley7741Robert Sapolsky, bro has a lot of books and other lectures (this reply is mad late but hope it helps)

[@roberto2380]

"The purpose of science is not to cure us of our sense of mystery and wonder, but to constantly reinvent and reinvigorate it." Robert M. Sapolsky,

[@gillesmeura3416]

Yeah, I also noticed this particular sentence and thought "mmhhh this would make a nice quote!" 🙂👍

[@NazriB]

Lies again? NRIC Card

[@kellyberry4173]

@@gillesmeura3416 I have this quote and his pic on a shirt!!!

[@kellyberry4173]

@@NazriB ???? Lies again,Lies again,Lies again, Damn, what's your problem....go away.

[@perorin615]

thx for repeating i missed it the first time

[@Prizm44]

NOT HAPPY that Stanford didn't film his religion lecture. There's at least one lecture missing between the last video (24. Schizophrenia) and this one (25). He even mentioned in the last video that a couple weren't going to be filmed. But you can see an older version of his religion lecture under "Biological Underpinnings of Religiosity".

[@traviscroy4268]

You win the greatest comment. Thank you.

[@meagan8666]

Thank you....I will look for this lecture.

[@sciencenotreligion5607]

I'm so tired of the way we try to protect mythical thinking in this country.

[@diegodvs]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aojacoSnjLqepqs

[@Liusila]

Science not religion Protecting people’s feelings; protecting their own institution from getting sued. It is odd, but it is ingrained in the culture, I think.

[@janvanruth3485]

november 2018 , i am sitting here after having seen the whole series in the past three days. now at the age of 64, i wish i had the opportunity of having the course in university while studying for my degree in law. for over 20 years i have been acting as a pro bono lawyer on behalf of people committed to psychiatric wards by civil courts on the ground of them being a danger to themselves or others because of a psychiatric disease. none of the literature i read on the matter gave the kind of insight this series have given me.

[@GoodnightJLH]

jan van ruth I commend you for your wonderful career.

[@kellyberry4173]

jan van- GREAT COMMENT!

[@TypeIIStuped]

Sapolsky is a rock star.

[@Musistics]

TheShiuller Hottie. 😍

[@testrabbit]

What instrument is his forté?

[@testrabbit]

Lulz

[@testrabbit]

So, absolutely this is great. He's incredibly gifted.

[@danishairsoftink]

Yes he is! Fuccing yes!

[@AhmedEssam-rp1to]

I'm watching this in 2017. after 6 years and still this is the one of the greatest well presented courses I've ever studied. I had high hopes before starting and wasn't disappointed. I've learned so much about the brain and our way of thinking and judging others. very grateful to the professor and to Stanford for being able to view this while sitting in my chair in Egypt. This is the beauty of the internet.

[@oximas]

hi i am from egypt too, happy to see other Egyptians taking online courses like me.

[@kwantumrealmz632]

Hello from 2021. Still one of the best videos on KZbin.

[@Braglemaster123]

2021

[@Braglemaster123]

@@oximas He’s Jewish ✡️✡️👍👍❤️

[@AJusticeWarrior]

@@Braglemaster123 So? Why bring religion into everything to spoil it.

[@Wesley-wg2qi]

I went through this like I was watching a series on Netflix.

[@azurewolff837]

I planned so many times to relax from work or weekend watching some series on Netflix and I always ended up watching this... every time

[@ashbrady588]

I did these 25 (+ religion and depression) in a Covid week - far better use of time than a few series of Game of Thrones! Well done Stanford and Sapolsky

[@slooowman]

Form me it was like this series that you like but you can't finish it at some moment and then you go back to this few times until finally you watch the final which is great, it is something new but still it sums up the most important plots :P So much better ending than GoT

[@DrumCaptain1]

This makes Netflix into pictograph

[@SigHellion]

Same

[@AnjuTMakin]

You don't have to choose between being scientific and being compassionate. You can do both. Kudos to you Dr. Sapolsky.....

[@odst2247]

Exactly, being compassionate is a good tool and key to altruism.

[@Mhumaikani1993]

I am extremely happy to have completed these lectures which I have been watching for some time. I have been taking notes and delving deeper into the topics presented, and I as well felt so privileged to be able to view this lecture collection. Being a Yemeni raised up in a country like Saudi Arabia and capable of viewing such content that carries wonderful depth is really a gift of science due to the power of technology. I am a fan of Sapolsky and his way of lecturing is unique as he suffuses witty statements polished with the greatness of science. The amazing conclusion remarks he articulated at the very end was an august moment of science. How he presented his words has indeed imparted upon his listeners a feeling of the greatness of science and how it leads to a cascade of knowledge accumulation. I do think that he would agree with the physicist Marcelo Gleiser about how the Island of Knowledge forms and whenever we learn more, we increase the surface area to get in more contact with more questions which lead us to search for more and more. Thanks a lot Prof. You were really great. Thanks a lot Standford University for making such content available for us.

[@Mhumaikani1993]

+Michelle Windsor Interesting reply!!!

[@Mhumaikani1993]

Michelle Windsor Michelle Windsor I read your first reply carefully and I had ambivalent feelings towards it and that what made me keep a brief reply. Since you continued what seems to be part of what you wanted to expand on before, I would take the chance to reply, and let's celebrate differences. First of all, you concluded that Sapolsky was directing his words exclusively to those in his class, and this is a personal conclusion. Since the video is online and possibly he knew it would be uploaded then the aim is to educate everyone who watches this material. Secondly, educators are human and they have their biases and also they might be part of groups that damage the world in some way, but these biases are mostly kept out of the material they convey. In one of his lectures, he talked about the soldiers based in Nevada in a way that shows that he condemns the act. I would also like to point that most of what you raised is sadly true, but it was not apropos. There are different places in which such matters are discussed. I do acknowledge that indirect contributions from scientists allow the strong countries to subjugate the weak countries, though the moves are by the hands of policy makers, and since scientists are humans, they would side with who would fund them to expand their curiosity. Thanks for your brave words. Stay safe and let's wish for peace. Last note- I agree with the concepts put forward by the political scientist John Gray that technological and scientific advances are cumulative and it mostly stays to strengthen next scientific breakthroughs yet moral and political advances are fungible.

[@waggawaggaful]

M Humaikani Let's just hope that you survive the attack on your country and live long enough to continue learning about and enjoying science.

[@Mhumaikani1993]

Michelle Windsor I can't say if that wasn't sarcastic but let me act naive and say okay thanks.

[@johnnyomerta1730]

M Humaikani Brother, you are explaining yourself to someone that clearly is paranoid. Never try to rationalize with a person who is irrational. I enjoyed the lectures as well. However, you don't have to be a doctor pumping a stomach and making those kind of life changing decisions. The clerk at 7/11 can make decisions that can have a positive compassionate impact on one's life. These videos aren't just for the "privileged". It's for everyone about everyone. I live in Texas and learned them as well. I'll never go to Stanford, Yale or MIT but I am PRIVILEGED for living in a time when a humble Texan can gain better understanding of people and our world.

[@solomon948]

I would lay down my life for two brothers, eight cousins, or half of a Robert Sapolsky

[@aatishshinde3195]

What a journey this has been!!! 25 lectures - 36 hours - 10 days invested - one absolute rockstar of a personality! Life will never be the same again! Thank you, Professor!

[@slevinchannel7589]

Spreading Fake-Facts and Misconceptions about People with Disabilitys is maybe not the most common problem but a problem still. kzbin.info/door/-QmN3iF9lORMn8BxkqeB4wabout Please do report this Person, as he is very Vile. Random comment? Yes. But whatever... please help. If this comment here does not contain any Link or URL, then youtube glitched out again and I'm sorry for making a rather nonsensical comment... ...

[@pseudorealityisreal]

@@slevinchannel7589 Good you admitted your comment is nonsensical. And we will treat it as such.

[@slevinchannel7589]

@@pseudorealityisreal Wow, your comment shows immediately that you are an Idiot, doesnt it? I mean, i could literally correct you and say ‚I said IF there is no Link, but if so, thats KZbins Fault, cause i tried to post a Link’, but no, instead i will just laugh about you and block you on KZbin, leaving you behind. Ok?

[@kellyberry4173]

Aatish Shinde- BEST COMMENT

[@jamesmorgan9258]

Wow. I'm kinda sad now that it's over.

[@wadewilson7320]

same.

[@JuiceTubes]

Everything is finite; Except the interweb -- don't worry, they'll make more.

[@derek9153]

Same, only he would want you to know that it is NOT over. He would encourage you to continue thinking, questioning, investigating, and learning. It isn’t over, my friend.

[@JayBobJayBob]

James Morgan - Are you sad because of all the so called behavioral problems humankind has? Well, consider this: Sapolsky has the most serious behavioral tick associated with all scientists called self-righteous blind eye syndrome that causes them to arrogantly not see that all of these issues are past life experiences that have been epigenetically written to their DNA prior to reincarnation.

[@calebschenck4493]

@@JayBobJayBob He probably didn't talk about epigenetics because this was posted in 2011 and it wouldn't have been vastly understood then. He wouldn't want to say something that wasnt well documented, tested, and understood.

[@diesel5355]

This guy changed the way I look at science.

[@meh1294]

me too

[@Liusila]

David Mollura How exactly?

[@JayBobJayBob]

Scientists who are atheists cannot be a true scientists because all their studies inherently work towards proving their atheist point of view. Sapolsky, if he could only get outside his arrogant self, would probably say that he has evolutionarily selected towards his bias for the survival of his atheism. If you want to see true scientists look at the university of Virginia Department of perceptual studies; link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnLXhYBvncx2etk Or read “many lives many masters”. These are people who by their own admission objectively studied and objectively discovered the truth.

[@James-gk8ip]

@@JayBobJayBob If you have any concrete evidence of the existence of a god, you should share it with the world. I'm sure billions of people would be fascinated.

[@odst2247]

@@JayBobJayBob thus, your first statement is false.

[@WoutMertens]

I can't believe the lecture series is over, I want more 😭 this was mind blowing stuff

[@fejknumertrzy4063]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aojacoSnjLqepqs

[@medicineformelancholy9033]

I will never actually meet Prof. Sapolsky, and yet he has had a profound impact on my understanding and outlook on life and science. And that is the beauty in the life of an academic: the propagation of ideas and information can be scaled in impact enormously, as in engineering, but retains the personal touch and depth found only in the humanities.

[@George-bs3nb]

Professor Sapolsky and Stanford should be applauded for providing a highly informative series of lectures regarding current trends. Professor Sapolsky shares wonderfully interesting insights woven into an engaging delivery. Thank you for the access.

[@AustralianWildlife]

I will never be tired to repeat: Human Behavioral Biology is one of the best and most influential courses I’ve ever encountered. Sapolsky is an absolute superstar.

[@theintellectualrabbit6828]

Watched all 25 videos. I have to say Dr. Sapolsky is probably one of the most influential people I have heard on KZbin. Thank you Dr. Sapolsky for your great lectures.

[@aabroohussain9391]

"you don't have to choose between being compassionate and being scientific. Go and do both". There could be no other way more beautiful than saying this to end the lecture

[@trefod]

I'd like to see this lecture shot again. It deserves a professional video and sound crew and needs to be seen by many, many more people.

[@MICKEYISLOWD]

trefod Too true.

[@muffinspuffinsEE]

oh yes indeed!

[@briseboy]

+Gennaro rossi You're probably out of luck: Study epigenetis, and the phenomena of social niches. While Sapolsky might not agree, homosexual behavior has been increased in lab animal populations so significantly that is is highly correlated with population density. There is strong heritability in homosexuality. There are distinct brain differences, as outlined. While I study ethology (including human), with a past in anthropology, psychology and some other disciplines, which have given strong exposure to many human variant behaviors, from Schizophrenia, Tourette's, OCD, narcissistic and other personality disorders, I believe that you might be most offended by homosexuality comorbid with some others. There is not to my knowledge , been done a study on the prevalence of comorbidity, as there has in other personality variables. I can only speak with anecdotal opinion that I've encountered a greater incidence of comorbidity there. To other animal behaviors again: I note that bighorn sheep have a social male homosexuality, in which young males pair with dominant large rams, obtaining protection from subdominant rams, until such time as they can compete, assisting their dominance and consequent reproductive odds. Thus the behavior there is highly adaptive. Should you have heard Dr. Bob's other lectures, you will find that evolutionary perspective asks "WHY would the trait persist through time, rather than be extinguished?" He himself suggested that some males in some species use traits that females prize, in order to get close - to mate guard, if you will. Then, even though they may not be deeply attracted, the promiscuous homosexual may pass on genetic (and epigenetic - sometimes the methylation persists, for, as we know so far, up to or at least two more generations) tendency. In the crowded modern human world, we have all seen close relationships occur between females and homosexual males. It appears that females who are not homosexual often experiment. I could give some different examples from experience, including two who experienced severe trauma - rape and multiple rape by males. Others are CLEARLY very masculinized, and Sapolsky's lectures will familiarize you with some reasons for that. If you are highly distressed by those who are homosexual, large cities, sometimes famed for it, and near arts communities are found the highest densities of homosexual males, while, college and university areas and towns are where homosexual females cluster. I would generally suggest that individuals avoid deep social ties on the basis of strong dislike for homosexuals, as male fear of homoexuals can lead to violence, and many who are imprisoned due to expression of violence against the weak, become penetrated themselves in those facilities. While I have not finished viewing this lecture, Sapolsky is very obviously saying that one should consider that we ALL are on a spectrum of most behaviors considered disorders. Irrational fear of homosexuals may mean that an individual has more attraction or mixed feelings than those who do not have such fears. This phenomenon has been shown to exist in gunowners - they test to have far more fear of animals and other humans, than those who do not so equip themselves and carry arms.

[@paulukjames7799]

surely it can not be that hard to control the feedback

[@OxFromPhilly]

I just want to comment and share my extreme gratitude towards Dr. Sapolsky and all of his great lectures that I am able to access for free on KZbin. I watch his videos and take notes just as if I was in a college course classroom myself. His lectures have really allowed me to have a better understanding of my mental state and my behavioral patterns and motivations. From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much, Dr. Sapolsky!

[@TowerRigger1]

Thank you Stanford for making these accessable to people who will never be able to attend your halls, but thirst for knowledge all the same.

[@bokchoiman]

That last speech he directed at the students contained some of the most powerful words I've ever heard spoken.

[@nathanirby4273]

This man has changed my entire outlook on life, on a fundamental level, I love this lecture series, honestly I think everyone should see them. Bravo Dr. Sapolsky

[@nicolaikarcher7186]

I feel sort of empty now, like after having finished a good book... Thank you, Robert!

[@gemmanaz20]

Yes exactly, or like we all went top an amazing opera. The professor is brilliant. Best book ever.

[@MusicaAngela]

“Even though it’s complicated, you gotta do something.” His sermon brought tears to my eyes. That he urged the students to be brave and to work hard was a magnificent ending.

[@syberraith]

Being able to audit this course was a pleasure and a privilege. Thank you Prof. Sapolsky and thank you Stanford University for doing what you could to help me realize my thirty year old dream of studying at Stanford. In spite of it only being virtual, it was definitely worth the wait.

[@michaelgreene7403]

The last 15 - 20 minutes are inspirational; how Dr. Sapolsky makes a direct bridge connecting a "neutral" science like neurobiology to the heights of spiritual compassion and sensitivity not unlike the Dalai Lama. The whole lecture in fact is a call for greater understanding and processing versus merely judging.

[@Khiff]

I wanna thank Stanford University and professor Sapolsky for these lectures. They're getting quite old, and yet they completely changed the way I see the world. Thanks again.

[@Xasperato]

This lecture puts the cherry on top of the cake that is this series.

[@meagan8666]

I would also like to add my thanks for these lectures being posted on the web. This is probably the closets I will ever get to "higher education". Professor Sapolsky is a pleasure to watch and listen to. I watch these lectures to try and understand myself better....to figure out why I am the way I am and what makes me.....me. I hope my kid has professors like this when he gets there five or so years from now.

[@ivanbayuk]

2021 Thank you to whoever's decision it was to upload his lectures, what a god of a human being this guy is.Thank you mr. Sapolsky!

[@rivadenis1073]

Thank you Professor Sapolsky for the most interesting and well presented lecture series I've ever heard on a subject that truly needs more widespread understanding. Thank you Stanford for making these lectures available to the public. Please post more!!

[@devora4386]

Sapolsky syndrome-having a life-changing, awe-inspiring experience watching a decade old series of KZbin videos! I would trade all my real-life college knowledge for this one class.

[@kellyberry4173]

Truth....I agree.

[@fancysecretdocs2389]

The feeling mr Sapolsky had with that Chaos book? I have it right now about this series of lectures. After finishing, I immadietely want to rewatch it again.

[@elliotdesouza3714]

This last lecture brought me to tears. Thank you Stanford for making his wisdom accessible to us.

[@shaan702]

Man it sucks Dinesh fucked up your name.

[@bobe8506]

I love this guy. He's funny to watch and he has a lot of good points. He's made me a better person.

[@hudont0]

this was an amazing series to witness. i feel grateful that we have the technology that made it possible for us to listen on youtube who could not be physically present at this stanford lecture hall in the 2000’s. as someone who started the first video having zero thoughts about human behavioral biology i still feel like my perspective about it has changed. way to go internet and stanford for enabling tens of thousands to millions of people to take in this engaging course.

[@coolstorybro6076]

* Catch phrase of the entire lecture series: "WHAT IS THAT ABOUT!?"

[@johnschwarzkopf]

"In other words, ...."

[@magenoir999]

"A whole new world of ..."

[@AkshatSharma1505]

"You know that whole song and dance by now...."

[@AkshatSharma1505]

"Another one of those if-then clauses"

[@AkshatSharma1505]

"We move on to another bucket"

[@MrDaanjanssen]

Having seen the last of these feels like finishing a great book. Some of these were honestly one of the interesting lectures I've ever seen. Sapolsky is just one of those few who can grab your attention from the beginning till the end. Very grateful for putting these online, thanks

[@jenslyn87]

Loved this series! Please make more lectures with Sapolsky available :)

[@mathematixal]

Absolutely love the two takeaways from this course. It is rare to find such strong support for the fact that scientific rigour and compassion do not have to be contradictions, and that the hard problems are worth solving. This lecture course really is fundamental knowledge to understanding ourselves and the humans around us, and I wish everyone from all professions would watch this series. Thank you Dr. Sapolsky, for sharing not just knowledge but true wisdom as well.

[@globalcliques]

Beautiful. I'm so glad these lectures were available to me. Thank you.

[@sco0tpa]

Thank you to Stanford and Dr. Sapolsky for giving us the gift of this lecture series.

[@happylindsay4475]

This moved me to tears both of a strange sadness and excruciating hope. Bravo Professor.

[@ilerifirat]

What an emotional rollercoaster this was. One of the most deeply moving experiences of my life.

[@mitch1078]

Very hard to stop watching...he always grabs your attention and one of the most brilliant teachers the world ever has.

[@user-ez8mn5ig8m]

wow, that closing speech was so moving and powerful. I'm in awe

[@baldwintheanchorite]

Doc Sapolsky is my favorite thing to Google, and it's been like that for 5 years now.

[@TorrenLee]

Congratulations to anyone & everyone who has completed this course. Thank you Prof Robert Sapolsky. Out there in the aether, you help guide us to greater heights.

[@martingenet8799]

amazing series. thank you, Stanford, for making this available.

[@ParticleRefrigerator]

Well, if You somehow jumped in to this last video of the course and wondering "should I watch an entire series or not?" Yes! You definitely must! Nowhere in anywhere You will find so much love for teaching greatly and obtain knowledge so vast as from here. Sapolsky, You rock (;

[@JaydenEricBeaudoin]

Every lecture in this series has been amazing, but the ending of this has such a strong kicker. We're not that different from one another and we can all extend some compassion.

[@eMbry00s]

Just finished watching all the lectures. Best lecturer I've ever seen, and I do watch a lot of lectures. Huge thanks to Stanford U and the most venerable Dr Sapolsky!

[@suddenuprising]

sapolsky is the ultimate dude

[@DanielBrownsan]

But where would he be without his sidekick, "The Beard"?

[@redragongaming]

@@DanielBrownsan You're using big talk so as to appear under control, you son of a bitch, I've got your tricks schemes now, you're going to be permanently and irreversibly erased.

[@SpiritualPsychotherapyServices]

@@redragongaming, seek help, ASAP!

[@supertonicwater]

This last lecture is so intensely overpowering I can hardly watch it. Thank you Professor Sapolsky, thank you so much for sharing with us the things you have uncovered about what it means to be a human being. Thank you for this wonderful journey.

[@slevinchannel7589]

Spreading Fake-Facts and Misconceptions about People with Disabilitys is maybe not the most common problem but a problem still. kzbin.info/door/-QmN3iF9lORMn8BxkqeB4wabout Please do report this Person, as he is very Vile. Random comment? Yes. But whatever... please help. If this comment here does not contain any Link or URL, then youtube glitched out again and I'm sorry for making a rather nonsensical comment... ...

[@kellyberry4173]

Absolutely.

[@hypermorphism]

An astoundingly knowledge filled series of lectures about one of the toughest subjects on the planet. Great thanks to all involved, especially Mr. Sapolsky.

[@Limposium]

What a great lecturer! I guess I'll have to read his books now.

[@twinboost]

What a awesome lecturer ...

[@BolasDaGrk]

Robert Sapolsky is a champion of research and education for neuroscience and human behavior. I have been listening to many types of lectures for decades and his capability to relay his message to all levels with great clarity is unmatched.

[@Rawi888]

One of the most enlightening courses I’ve ever encounted. When I feel like it’s time to clean up and do chores, I always listen to this lecture and I’ve come back to it for like two years now. it’s really changed my view on life and myself. I’ve made a really good habit of coming back here. Thank you everyone, thank you Mr. Sapolsky.

[@caseytrimble7398]

I finished this series early on during the pandemic, and I find that it's really useful to keep coming back to this last lecture. The multi-level analysis that Dr. Sapolsky builds up over the course of these lectures is extraordinarily useful as a framework in other areas, whether you're looking at behaviors in the classroom or behaviors in markets. And furthermore, this series of lectures gives you a good solid foundation before jumping into the really disorienting areas of study in biology and ecology that shake your basic definitions of what it means to be an individual at all, and the degree to which our personalities and actions aren't neatly separable from our environments and our neighbors.

[@stephenwalsh3629]

I have binge watched this entire course over the past month. It is by far the most enlightening and best delivered course I have ever taken. (As an aside, I have an undergraduate degree and two graduate degrees. So, I have attended many a lecture over the years.)

[@GreatWhite00000]

That final speech brought me to tears. What marvelous, beautiful, and hopeful view of science and the human capacity. And also responsible, at the same time.

[@raulferrer-conill9281]

Watched all 25 lectures and still at awe with such and an approach that admittedly weaves theory with research based examples...without flinching once. Amazing. And that let bit of wisdom at the end...wow.

[@ataraxia7439]

When you start looking at people families and the kind of environments they grow up in you can’t stop seeing how basically everything about who we are as people is determined by stuff we had no choice over. If some is doing bad things or failing to do good things they’re suppose to do, try to remember they’re a product of things they had no say over and you’d be just as bad if all those factors had been the same for you. There’s a moral clarity and compassion that comes with this.

[@ugoc3300]

Winter Holiday in the pandemic. I watched them all. It gave me new insight in recent interests in psychology and sociology, and more wildly in social sciences. It gave me some substance to connect them. I am fortunate to have watched more advanced math videos a priory. Empathy level going higher. I feel like a mad doc.

[@Javaman92]

This series of lectures was wonderful! Thank you Stanford for providing this. Prof. Robert Sapolsky ROCKS! :-)

[@MickeySiller]

Dr. Robert Sapolsky, Thank you for making this extraordinary course. For placing a high and constant energy in every lecture, taking care of covering every topic with as much detail time could tolerate and our naiveness could comprehend. It has been inspiring, and I will continue to review the topics and in the near and far future.

[@MillyJoM]

I came across these lectures while I was looking for information on my sister's schizophrenia. I have watched so many videos. I really believe I learned more from your lectures. Thank you. You have found your talent in teaching.

[@RafaelGarciaYito_7131]

This professor is an amazing lecturer. Thanks professor Sapolsky and Stanford University for this unique gift to the world. I’m so impressed with his ability to communicate so much information about these subjects.

[@janina873]

Natural flow with no notes!

[@guyspicks5308]

Amazing lecture series. Thanks to Professor Sapolsky and Stanford!

[@goobah01]

Insanely great. He’s such a good lecturer and such a deep thinker. A grand tour of the ways of understanding the biology of behaviour that integrates so many viewpoints.

[@JoseMonteverde]

Can't believe how many times I've watched this course. Always learning more

[@ronniefundora]

a perfect lecture... this guy inspires, teaches, a creates doubts. A great teacher does not only transmit knowledge, but make you hungry for more...

[@carpo719]

This is an awesome lecture. I really like how he mentioned tourette's, certain diseases that affect the mind, and seizures....and how once we thought it was 'possession' by the devil, burned at the stake. I get the feeling that the more we learn about genetics, the more we can hope to protect our society against archaic and outdated ways of thinking. People have always feared what they do not understand, so....we learn to understand. :)

[@blessedandbiwithahintofmagic]

What a beautiful way of ending the lecture. After 10 years, I have finally complete this series. I am so happy - it only took me 2 weeks, once I got down to it, and this is just wonderful

[@PlayRoom44]

I love you Professor Sapolsky. I’m about to Chris Hedges you, as in, listen to every lecture of yours I can. Thank you for this great class. You’re a wonderful teacher 🌈

[@psicoestudos6276]

This man is a gift to humanity , I feel blessed to have this opportunity to watch him

[@TheHelveticanbarbie]

Took me a month to get through these but WOW. So so happy and thankful that these are available online and for free. Knowledge shouldn't be hoarded. If we want to build a better society then everyone deserves at the very least, the opportunity, to learn. So thank you, and with every fiber of my being I mean this -Thank you for the opportunity to learn.

[@gaillilly1978]

What a lovely ending to a most interesting series of classes. I hope these young, bright students wrote down what you said and will save it to look at every now and then. What a magnificent way to encourage others to be their best even though the push back is at times overwhelming. I am a senior. I wrote it down. Not much time left, still, saved it to look at just in case I lose my compass. Thank you.

[@jovanakezic1247]

So much gratitude to this man. He makes you feel infinite and yet firmly on the ground. Thank you Robert Sapolsky, you have made people eager for knowledge, critical thinking and understanding.

[@Trex100]

Brilliant and amazing series of lectures. Well worth the hours I've been spending!

[@petrming9055]

I am so grateful that I could have studied these lectures just sitting here in Prague. I have been taking notes, googling for extra reading and images of whatever was intriguing to me - and there heaps of it. I originally studied sinology in uni, but this series is definitely going to be helpful in switching to psychology. In front of me there is already sitting the book Behave and I am looking forward to consolidate whatever I've learned here. Furthermore, I felt invigorated a lot of times by going through the comment section and just absorbing the gratitude expressed by many of you guys. Immense gratitude. Thank you!

[@AlmarWinfield]

Since these lectures I have started looking up anything that has Robert Sapolsky in it. Interviews, speeches, anything. This man is a genius and I can't believe how fun it is learning from him.

[@JimBCameron]

Loved this whole series! Starting it all over again tomorrow! :D

[@dnteatylwsnw]

Man, the conclusion was amazing. I love this guy. I'm sad this is finished

[@b.kimtaylornyc]

Robert Sapolsky is an example of the best of humanity. So grateful to him and to Stanford U for this entire series being available and free.

[@mitch1078]

His lectures are very melodious to my ears. Like a wonderful music composer...there's no one else that comes close.

[@metanumia]

Thanks so much +Stanford for uploading this great course, and thanks Professor Sapolsky for the ever-enlightening material! More free Stanford courses, please! :D

[@marcusryden6732]

An amazing end to an amazing lecture series. Robert Sapolsky, you are a fantastic, intelligent, compassionate and competent teacher. Thank you.

[@SargeanTea]

Thank you, Stanford staff and students, for allowing these lectures available for free and Dr. Sapolsky for the amazing content. Priceless

[@matejavrska4795]

Thank you, Professor Sapolsky, this series of videos has changed the way I look at the world

[@gashfilms159]

Just a quick comment to thank Robert and Stanford for making these available :) - superb lecturer, fascinating subject and incredibly powerful beard.

[@roobookaroo]

After every commenter saying exactly the same thing without adding any new piece of information, finally a concrete comment. As I have already mentioned in one of my comments, there is in fact another Professor who sports not only the same kind of wildly overgrown bushy beard, but even a similar ponytail.

[@NoraDemeter]

That was a very very interesting lecture series. Thanks for uploading it.

[@KeithCooper-Albuquerque]

I have just concluded with all 25 of these videos. I'm am so glad I took the time to watch and learn from them. Professor Sapolsky is an amazing lecturer and a wonderful person. Thank you and Stanford for making these videos available.

[@katrhyme]

I highly recommend these Stanford lectures on Human Behavioral Biology by Professor Robert Sapolsky. These give you a Stanford level education on what can cause behavior be it genetics, environment, or neurological, hormonal, and endocrine processes. I have learned more in the 25+ hours watching these than I had in my formal education decades ago. Be enlightened and be grateful for the revelations contained here.

[@nancyswass119]

This guy is great. I've learned a mountain of stuff! And, grateful that it was taught with good intentions. Thank you, also, for including some ethics. Some people don't know that they have a moral compass, and so, don't know where they are going.