A Primate's Memoirs By Robert Sapolsky And Bowon Prodox

1288 Words3 Pages

Throughout situations and research conducted by not only Robert Sapolsky or Jane Goodman, but from many other credited sources, we can blatantly see the, if not identical, similarities between the two species of humans and baboons. The most apparent likewise characteristics of this can be read and documented in Professor Sapolsky’s book, A Primate’s Memoirs. Sapolsky, who spent hundreds if not thousands, of hours studying these Savanna Baboons, sheds a vast insight into ideas of social dominance, mating strategies, instinctual prowess, community settings, hygiene, and reform of an entire generation; many of which can be unknowingly seen directly in the common occurrence of a humans daily life. One of the biggest ideals shown throughout history is the need for power and dominance. Whether it comes from Hitler taking over Germany and trying to enact a full-scale genocide of an entire race or a Savanna baboon alpha male being challenged by a headstrong youth for dictatorship of the tribe; the need to be the one who calls the shots will always remain an instinctual thought hardwired in our brain. To some this comparison may seem off based and farfetched in regards to similarity, however looking at Sapolsky’s research, the dominance in the animal kingdom can get rather similar. In a quote from his book A Primate’s Memoirs, Robert states, “Solomon entered the fight, ably taking on both while they were preoccupied and exhausted. Result: number 203 dead, Aaron badly injured, Solomon settling in to his reign” (Pg 22-23). The clichéd quote of “all is fair in love and war” could not sum up this act of social dominance any better. Solomon, who was number 3 in the chain of command, waited on the arduous fight of the two contenders to wage on... ... middle of paper ... ...e where the hierarchy is falls into shambles. The extensive research conducted by Robert Sapolsky demonstrates the immense similarities that the Savanna baboons have compared to the average human. When broken down, the reader can indefinitely see the struggle for social dominance in the community, the instinctual takeover of the subconscious, the hierarchy ladder that dictates the rank in everyday life, and lastly the changes from one generation to the next. Although professor Sapolsky’s research ended with the death of the Keekorok troop, there was a time frame, when the last fleeting moments closed in, that he witnessed the death of aggression and saw the ushering in of kindness and tolerance amongst each other. This epiphany was imperative to Sapolsky’s understanding that nothing is concrete; there is always some way to branch out and make a better environment.

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