Biology and Human Behavior: The Neurological Origins of Individuality, 2nd Edition

By: Robert Sapolsky, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Robert Sapolsky

When are we responsible for our own actions, and when are we in the grip of biological forces beyond our control? What determines who we fall in love with? The intensity of our spiritual lives? The degree of our aggressive impulses?

These questions fall into the scientific province of behavioral biology, the field that explores interactions between the brain, mind, body, and environment that have a surprising influence on how we behave. In short, how our brains make us the individuals we are.

In this series of 24 fascinating lectures by a prominent neurobiologist, zoologist, and MacArthur Foundation "genius" grant recipient, you'll investigate how the human brain is sculpted by evolution, constrained or freed by genes, shaped by early experience, modulated by hormones, and otherwise influenced to produce a wide range of behaviors, some of them abnormal. And you'll learn how little can be explained by thinking about any of these factors alone, because some combination of influences is almost always at work.

Professor Sapolsky includes a provocative exploration of the implications of our emerging understanding of the origins of individual differences, considering such questions as: How much do these insights threaten our own sense of self and individuality? Where do we draw the line between the essence of the person and the biological abnormalities? What counts as being ill? Who is biologically impaired, and who is just different? As more and more subtle abnormalities of neurobiology are understood, how much should we worry about the temptation to label people as "abnormal"? And what happens when we each have a few of these labels?

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2005 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2005 The Great Courses

Very interesting course but mistitled

The course focuses on aggression and not individuality. The course is very interesting, though, and we'll worth the time.

It's a must

The first few chapters are a little difficult, but once you get to chapter 11 everything starts to shift. It's a book you must read if you enjoy learning about behaviour!

wonderful intro for lay people

The author is very good at explaining complex topics in a easy to understand way for lay people.

This is a feedback for audible primarily, One thing i would have loved is for the reference diagrams to have popped up at appropriate time. Actually i was not able to locate it in the audible app.

important for any scientific minded human

This course crystalized my intuition about many of these subject providing me with important scientific finds that supported it.

NO Companion Outline mentioned and referenced.

What would have made Biology and Human Behavior: The Neurological Origins of Individuality, 2nd Edition better?

If visual material (outline) referenced in the audio continuously would be part of the program it would deserve 5 stars.

When purchasing, there is no mention of the requirement suggested by the Teaching Company. This turns the Program into a simple audio product w/out study material and no possibility of following the excitement the lectures generate.

Professor Sapolsky is always worth listening to, but if you want to study and reflect on his lectures this is NOT your product. Turn to the Teaching Company and buy the DVD.

Being a Platinum member I am disappointed. First and last time I will purchase a Great Teachers program.