Sarah Brosnan

Dr. Sarah Brosnan, a primatologist and director of the Primate Cognition, Evolution, and Behavior Program at Georgia State University, explores fascinating parallels between primate and human societies. She discusses how chimpanzees' competitive nature contrasts with bonobos' cooperative behaviors. The conversation dives into primate decision-making, social hierarchies, and the evolutionary roots of inequality. Listeners will discover insights on parenting styles and the dynamics of leadership, revealing how observing primates can illuminate our own social structures.

In this thought-provoking discussion, primatologist Sarah Brosnan dives into her groundbreaking research on fairness and inequity aversion in monkeys. She explores the famous cucumber-throwing experiment, linking monkey frustrations with human social inequalities. The conversation covers topics like the potential for monkeys to adopt egalitarian norms and how fairness enhances cooperation. Brosnan also examines whether animals have concepts of property rights and what these behaviors reveal about human moral evolution, prompting a fascinating exploration of our shared nature.

Sarah Brosnan, a primatologist specializing in cooperation among monkeys, uncovers the evolutionary roots of fairness shared by humans and capuchins. She shares captivating footage revealing how these monkeys react to perceived injustice, suggesting that our sense of equality is deeply ingrained. The discussion dives into how fairness influences cooperation, decision-making, and societal dynamics, highlighting its crucial role in fostering healthy social interactions and addressing systemic inequalities.