Approximately a quarter of men on death row in the U.S. have a history of concussive trauma to their frontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for impulse control and long-term planning. This suggests a biological basis for their actions, challenging notions of pure choice.
After 20 years of research, neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky concluded his initial hypothesis was wrong. Having friends and a positive outlook is physiologically more beneficial for a baboon's health and longevity than being a high-ranking, dominant male.
Robert Sapolsky found it riskier to dart female baboons than larger males. Males are transient, but females stay in their birth troop their whole lives, surrounded by mothers, sisters, and aunts who will collectively and viciously defend a tranquilized relative.
Robert Sapolsky discovered that baboons, despite their intelligence, lack object permanence. When he covered a tranquilized troop member with a burlap sack, the other baboons would immediately cease their aggression, as if the individual had vanished entirely from existence.
Sapolsky believes humans have no free will, as we are products of our biology. This makes concepts like blame and retribution illogical. He proposes a "quarantine model" for dangerous individuals: incapacitation without moral judgment, similar to isolating someone with a contagious disease.
Baboons in the Serengeti only need to forage for a few hours daily. This leaves them with nine hours of free time, which they use to create complex social hierarchies and psychological stress for one another, mirroring how modern humans experience stress.
Robert Sapolsky attributes his development as a writer to his isolation in Africa. With mail as his only contact, he wrote to 50 people. When something interesting happened, he would write 50 different versions of that one story, honing his narrative skills through repetition.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)—like witnessing violence or abuse—create chronic stress. The resulting "ACE score" is a powerful predictor of future problems. Kids with high ACE scores from inner-city environments often exhibit PTSD rates exceeding those of combat veterans.