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Stars Through Lenses

@cosmicpetunias / cosmicpetunias.tumblr.com

Ad Astra per Aspera Half Canadian/Half American-- Adolescence spent in Costa Rica, currently residing in Halifax. Getting a degree in Earth Sci and the History of Science and Technology!  Trekkie (TNG) and Carl Sagan enthusiast ~ We are the Cosmos...

Robert Sapolsky about his study of the Keekorok baboon troop from National Geographic’s Stress: Portrait of a Killer.

Thiiiiiiis, people, thiiiis!

1. Kill alpha male types 2. Achieve world peace

Got it.

I’ve actually read a lot of Sapolsky’s work.  He’s one of my favorite scientists in the neuro/socio world.

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I just watched the documentary and there is so much more about the troop that isn’t in this photoset—not only does the troop have a culture of little aggression and greater cooperation, but any incoming jerk baboons learned within a few months that their shitty behaviour was in no way acceptable, that the troop only rewarded sociability, and they changed accordingly. 

If effin’ baboons can learn this there’s pretty much no reason to believe that our only option in dealing with assholes is to just ignore their behaviour and let it continue.

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It’s backed up by other studies. For example, there was one where monkeys of a typically aggressive species were raised by foster mothers of a more chill species, and as adults they were conspicuously less aggressive than normal - clearly, that was a cultural trait and not a genetic one.

Also, who could argue with such a magnificent mane of hair?

3.10.16

Thousands of women in black went on strike across Poland on Monday, closing down restaurants, government offices and university classes, and blocking access to the ruling party headquarters in Warsaw to protest against plans for a total ban on abortion.