The Rest Is Politics: Leading 59. Robert Sapolsky: The psychology behind Donald Trump, the science of stress, and the illusion of ‘free will’
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Feb 12, 2024 
Robert Sapolsky, a scientist specializing in stress and psychology, discusses the psychology behind Donald Trump, the science of stress, and the illusion of 'free will'. Other topics include baboon behavior and its political parallels, the impact of social media on politics, why poor Americans support Trump, the influence of race on jury decisions, the lack of empathy, and the genetic and environmental influences on mental health.
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Baboons and Politics
- Robert Sapolsky studied baboon behavior for 25 years, observing their social hierarchy and aggression.
- He found parallels between baboon power dynamics and human political behavior, particularly dominance displays.
Integrating with Baboons
- Sapolsky's wife joined him in Kenya, and her presence changed how both baboons and locals interacted with the camp.
- She could get closer to baboons for darting, and locals became more welcoming, suggesting Sapolsky was initially seen as an oddity.
Human Stress Response
- Stress hormones are ancient, designed for short-term physical crises.
- Humans activate these responses chronically for psychological reasons, leading to stress-related diseases.