25 episodes

This course covers how to approach complex normal and abnormal behaviors through biology; how to integrate disciplines including sociobiology, ethology, neuroscience, and endocrinology, to examine behaviors such as aggression, sexual behavior, language use, and mental illness.

Human Behavioral Biology Robert Sapolsky

    • Science
    • 4.6 • 43 Ratings

This course covers how to approach complex normal and abnormal behaviors through biology; how to integrate disciplines including sociobiology, ethology, neuroscience, and endocrinology, to examine behaviors such as aggression, sexual behavior, language use, and mental illness.

    • video
    25. Last Lecture and Individual Differences (June 2, 2010)

    25. Last Lecture and Individual Differences (June 2, 2010)

    Professor Robert Sapolsky gives the final lecture in the Human Biology 160 class. He uses the lecture to wrap up any loose ends and show how the themes of the class connects without the more complex concepts that were brought up throughout the course. (June 2, 2010)

    • 3 sec
    • video
    24. Schizophrenia (May 26, 2010)

    24. Schizophrenia (May 26, 2010)

    Robert Sapolsky discusses environmental factors as well as genetic characteristics that could apply to people who are affected. He describes schizophrenia as a disease of thought disorder and inappropriate emotional attributes. (May 26, 2010)

    • 6 sec
    • video
    23. Language (May 21, 2010)

    23. Language (May 21, 2010)

    Robert Sapolsky describes the similarities and differences between different human and animal languages. He focuses on how we use language to communicate with each other, how we communicate with animals, and how animals commute with each other. (May 21, 2010)

    • 6 sec
    • video
    22. Emergence and Complexity (May 22, 2010)

    22. Emergence and Complexity (May 22, 2010)

    Professor Robert Sapolsky details how a small difference at one place in nature can have a huge effect on a system as time goes on. He calls this idea fractal magnification and applies it to many different systems that exist throughout nature. (May 21, 2010)

    • 6 sec
    • video
    21. Chaos and Reductionism (May 19, 2010)

    21. Chaos and Reductionism (May 19, 2010)

    Professor Robert Sapolsky gives what he calls "one of the most difficult lectures of the course" about chaos and reductionism. This lecture focuses on reduction science and breaking things down to their component parts. (May 19, 2010)

    • 5 sec
    • video
    17. Human Sexual Behavior III & Aggression I (May 10, 2010)

    17. Human Sexual Behavior III & Aggression I (May 10, 2010)

    Robert Sapolsky completes his talk on sexual behavior in humans as well as other species, focusing on characteristics that create attractiveness. He then switches subject and talks about human aggression and how this has evolved and developed. (May 10, 2010)

    • 5 sec

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
43 Ratings

43 Ratings

NefariousJib ,

Mindblowing

This is a phenomenal course that has changed my thinking not only about biology but about the nature of science itself. Each lecture contains fascinating subject matter and I can't wait to get home to discuss the deeper implications. I only wish there were more lectures available online from the deeply intelligent and engaging Professor Sapolsky.

I just finished the last lecture and it's a bit heartbreaking that I will no longer have my mind blown on my commute to work in the morning. The lectures are structured in such a way that visuals are rarely necessary, so you can start up a lecture and keep it in your pocket most of the time.

My only complaint is that the course lags a bit in the middle when the TAs are giving a few lectures. Plow through and you'll get back to the more meaty material.

Many thanks to Stanford and Professor Sapolsky for making this content available!

just an ape from anotha motha ,

Amazing!

i spend most of my free time reading medical text books and watching/listening to medical podcasts (ICU rounds ect). This is the first time in a long time that I have found passion for a new subject. Dr. Robert Sapolsky is an absolute expert in his field, makes learning this subject very exciting, and he's funny too. He is very energetic and keeps a fierce pace throughout his lectures... no idea how he can keep all that info in his brain. Probably has something to do with a very well developed frontal cortex (it takes tremendous disciplined to be this smart).

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