The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast

chevron_right

249. Primatologist Explains the 1% Difference Between Humans & Apes | Richard Wrangham

whatshot 11 snips

May 2, 2022

Guest

Richard Wrangham

In this insightful discussion, Richard Wrangham, a Harvard biological anthropologist and author, delves into the fascinating world of primate behavior and human evolution. He shares gripping stories from his time with Jane Goodall studying chimpanzees, revealing insights on aggressive dynamics and social structures. Wrangham explores how cooking not only shaped human diets but also influenced cognitive development and social bonds. The conversation further highlights the evolutionary roots of human aggression, drawing intriguing parallels between our species and our primate relatives.

01:45:52

forum

Ask episode

web_stories

AI Snips

view_agenda

Chapters

menu_book

Books

auto_awesome

Transcript

info_circle

Episode notes

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Close Encounter with a Rhino

Richard Wrangham had a thrilling experience while working in Kafue National Park.
He narrowly avoided colliding with a rhino, saved only by the warning shots of others.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Elephant Immobilization

Richard Wrangham assisted in elephant research involving a new immobilizing drug.
Determining if the elephant was asleep involved pulling its tail, then pushing the massive animal onto its side.

question_answer

ANECDOTE

Early Influences

Richard Wrangham's interest in human evolution stemmed from works by Robert Ardrey and Desmond Morris.
These books explored human competitiveness and sexual behavior in the context of our African origins.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Journey into Primatology

03:25 • 22min

chevron_right

Chimpanzee Relationships and Human Evolution

25:10 • 16min

chevron_right

Chimpanzee Aggression and Social Dynamics

40:47 • 18min

chevron_right

The Culinary Evolution of Primates

58:50 • 12min

chevron_right

The Evolutionary Impact of Fire Control in Human History

01:10:55 • 2min

chevron_right

The Paradox of Human Aggression

01:13:18 • 9min

chevron_right

Understanding Aggression in Human Evolution

01:21:50 • 15min

chevron_right

Social Norms and Moral Consequences in Isolated Communities

01:36:47 • 2min

chevron_right

The Psychology of Aggression and Its Impact on Social Structures

01:38:58 • 4min

chevron_right

Reflecting on Primate Behavior and Human Evolution

How Cooking Made Us Human

Richard Wrangham

In 'Catching Fire: How Cooking Made Us Human,' Richard Wrangham presents a revolutionary theory that cooking was the key factor in human evolution. He argues that the shift from raw to cooked foods led to significant physiological changes, including a smaller digestive tract and larger brain. Cooking also influenced social structures, such as pair bonding, marriage, and the sexual division of labor. The book draws on evidence from various disciplines, including anthropology, biology, and nutritional science, to support Wrangham's hypothesis that cooking was essential for the emergence of Homo erectus and the development of modern humans.

The Naked Jape

Uncovering the Hidden World of Jokes

Lucy Greeves

Jimmy Carr

The Naked Jape is both a lesson in joke-making and a collection of jokes, offering insights into the psychology and cultural significance of humor. It explores various aspects of jokes, from historical and cultural perspectives to psychological theories, while maintaining a humorous tone throughout.

Humankind

A Hopeful History

Rutger Bregman

Humankind: A Hopeful History challenges the idea that humans are inherently selfish by presenting evidence of our altruistic behavior throughout history. The book takes a multi-disciplinary approach, drawing from history, economics, psychology, biology, anthropology, and archaeology to argue that humans are more peaceful and friendly than commonly believed. Bregman sides with Jean-Jacques Rousseau's view of human nature in the state of nature debate, opposing Thomas Hobbes' more pessimistic outlook. He also discusses the concept of 'domestication syndrome' and how humans may have self-domesticated, leading to a more cooperative and empathetic species.

Demonic males

Richard Wrangham

Demonic Males examines the evolutionary factors contributing to human male violence by studying the behaviors of chimpanzees and other great apes. The book contrasts the aggressive societies of chimpanzees with the more peaceful bonobos, highlighting the role of social structure and female dominance in reducing violence. It argues that while humans have a genetic predisposition to violence, societal structures and intelligence can mitigate these tendencies.

African genesis

Robert Ardrey

In 'African Genesis', Robert Ardrey posits that humans evolved from carnivorous, predatory ancestors on the African continent, challenging prevailing theories of human origins at the time. The book explores themes of human nature, territoriality, and the evolutionary roots of social behaviors. It was widely read and sparked significant controversy upon its release.

Territorial Imperative

Robert Ardrey

In 'The Territorial Imperative', Robert Ardrey delves into the evolutionary roots of territorial behavior, arguing that humans, like other animals, are driven by innate instincts to defend and claim territory. This book challenges conventional views on human nature by suggesting that territoriality is a fundamental component of our genetic makeup, influencing aggression, social structures, and conflict. It remains a classic reference for exploring the intersection of biology and human society.

Brazzaville Beach

William Boyd

Brazzaville Beach by William Boyd follows Hope Clearwater, a British primate researcher, as she navigates her troubled past and the complexities of human and chimpanzee behavior in a war-torn African nation. The novel explores themes of love, loss, and survival, intertwining narratives of Hope's life in England and Africa. It delves into the consequences of ambition and the pursuit of scientific truth against a backdrop of violence and chaos.

This conversation was recorded on September 1, 2021.

I spoke to Richard Wrangham about his research on ape behavior. We explored prerequisites for chimp attacks, how cooking shaped human cognitive development, studying chimps in the wild with Jane Goodall, DNA similarity studies, proactive vs. reactive aggression, and more.

Richard is a biological anthropologist at Harvard, specializing in the study of primates and the evolution of violence, sex, cooking, and culture. He’s also a MacArthur fellow—the so-called “genius grant”—and the author of books like 'The Goodness Paradox: The Strange Relationship Between Virtue and Violence in Human Evolution' and 'Demonic Males: Apes and the Origins of Human Violence.'

—Chapters—

0:00 — Intro

2:39 — Jane Goodall

5:32 — Living in the wild

6:26 — Bumping into rhinos & sleep darting elephants

11:06 — Human competitiveness & sexual behavior

16:13 — "An enormous shock" from Yale

23:48 — Working with Jane Goodall

26:42 — Chimp mating habits

34:47 — Bonding via cooking

41:39 — Checking self-bias

42:26 — War and the 8-vs-1 rule

49:02 — Why kill lone neighbors?

56:41 — Cooking is really about calories

1:02:51 — The greatest discovery in human evolution

1:06:35 — Why do animals prefer it cooked?

1:10:05 — Fire & human development

1:12:16 — Innate violence, authoritarianism, and The Goodness Paradox

1:23:43 — Male aggression

1:42:01 — Outro

#Fire #JaneGoodall #War #Apes #Cooking #Harvard

// SUPPORT THIS CHANNEL //

Newsletter: https://linktr.ee/DrJordanBPeterson

Premium Podcast: https://jordanbpeterson.supercast.com/

Donations: https://jordanbpeterson.com/donate

// COURSES //

Discovering Personality: https://jordanbpeterson.com/personality

Self Authoring Suite: https://selfauthoring.com

Understand Myself (personality test): https://understandmyself.com

// BOOKS //

Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life: https://jordanbpeterson.com/Beyond-Order

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos: https://jordanbpeterson.com/12-rules-for-life

Maps of Meaning: The Architecture of Belief: https://jordanbpeterson.com/maps-of-meaning

// LINKS //

Website: https://jordanbpeterson.com

Events: https://jordanbpeterson.com/events

Blog: https://jordanbpeterson.com/blog

Podcast: https://jordanbpeterson.com/podcast

// SOCIAL //

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jordanbpeterson

Instagram: https://instagram.com/jordan.b.peterson

Facebook: https://facebook.com/drjordanpeterson

Telegram: https://t.me/DrJordanPeterson

Home Top podcasts Popular guests