ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Robert Sapolsky - Neuroscientist, primatologist, writer
Robert Sapolsky is one of the leading neuroscientists in the world, studying stress in primates (including humans).

Why you should listen

We all have some measure of stress, and Robert Sapolsky explores its causes as well as its effects on our bodies (his lab was among the first to document the damage that stress can do to our hippocampus). In his research, he follows a population of wild baboons in Kenya, who experience stress very similarly to the way humans do. By measuring hormone levels and stress-related diseases in each primate, he determines their relative stress, looking for patterns in personality and social behavior that might contribute. These exercises have given Sapolsky amazing insight into all primate social behavior, including our own.

He has been called "one of the best scientist-writers of our time" by Oliver Sacks. Sapolsky has produced, in addition to numerous scientific papers, books for broader audiences, including A Primate’s Memoir: A Neuroscientist’s Unconventional Life Among the Baboons, Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers: Stress Disease and Coping, and The Trouble with Testosterone.

His latest book, Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst, examines human behavior in search of an answer to the question: Why do we do the things we do?

More profile about the speaker
Robert Sapolsky | Speaker | TED.com
TED2017

Robert Sapolsky: The biology of our best and worst selves

羅勃薩波斯基: 最好與最糟的自我背後的生物學

Filmed:
1,818,106 views

人類為什麼能夠如此有同理心、利他,而同時又殘忍、暴力?為要了解我們的行為,羅勃薩波斯基追溯事情發生前的數秒到數百萬年前,來探討極端的情境、極端的行為。他在這場迷人的演說中分享他針對我們最糟與最好行為背後之生物學的前衛研究。
- Neuroscientist, primatologist, writer
Robert Sapolsky is one of the leading neuroscientists in the world, studying stress in primates (including humans). Full bio

Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.

克里斯安德森:過去幾年,羅勃
00:12
Chris克裡斯 Anderson安德森: So Robert羅伯特
spent花費 the last few少數 years年份
0
760
2696
00:15
think about how weird奇怪的 human人的 behavior行為 is,
1
3480
2336
都在思考人類的行為有多怪異,
00:17
and how inadequate不足 most
of our language語言 trying to explain說明 it is.
2
5840
4216
以及我們試圖解釋這些行為
所用的語言有多麼不妥。
00:22
And it's very exciting扣人心弦 to hear him
explain說明 some of the thinking思維 behind背後 it
3
10080
4376
能聽到他初次公開說明
這背後的一些想法,
00:26
in public上市 for the first time.
4
14480
1656
是很讓人非常興奮的。
00:28
Over to you now, Robert羅伯特 Sapolsky薩波爾斯基.
5
16160
2096
接下來就交給羅勃薩波斯基。
00:30
(Applause掌聲)
6
18280
2960
(掌聲)
00:35
Robert羅伯特 Sapolsky薩波爾斯基: Thank you.
7
23040
1616
羅勃薩波斯基:謝謝。
00:36
The fantasy幻想 always runs運行
something like this.
8
24680
2480
幻想總是像這樣的:
00:39
I've overpowered制服 his elite原種 guard守衛,
9
27960
2176
我擊敗了他的精英守衛,
00:42
burst爆裂 into his secret秘密 bunker掩體
10
30160
1935
闖入了他的秘密地下碉堡,
00:44
with my machine gun ready準備.
11
32119
1817
手持隨時待發的機關槍。
00:45
He lunges弓步 for his Luger魯格爾.
12
33960
1896
他衝向他的盧格手槍,
00:47
I knock it out of his hand.
13
35880
1816
我把槍從他的手中擊落。
00:49
He lunges弓步 for his cyanide氰化物 pill.
14
37720
2336
他衝向他的自殺藥丸,
00:52
I knock that out of his hand.
15
40080
1736
我把藥丸從他的手中擊落。
00:53
He snarls大發雷霆,
16
41840
1296
他咆哮起來,
00:55
comes at me with otherworldly空想的 strength強度.
17
43160
2216
以無比的力量衝向我。
00:57
We grapple抓鉤, we fight鬥爭,
18
45400
1696
我們扭打起來,
00:59
I manage管理 to pin him down
19
47120
1896
我將他壓倒在地,
01:01
and put on handcuffs手銬.
20
49040
1560
給他上了手銬。
01:03
"Adolf阿道夫 Hitler希特勒," I say,
21
51480
2016
我說:「阿道夫希特勒,
01:05
"I arrest逮捕 you for crimes犯罪
against反對 humanity人性."
22
53520
2840
我以違反人性的罪名逮捕你。」
01:10
Here's這裡的 where the Medal勳章 of Honor榮譽
version of the fantasy幻想 ends結束
23
58000
2976
榮譽勳章版本的幻想於此結束,
01:13
and the imagery意象 darkens變暗.
24
61000
1856
影像漸漸暗去。
01:14
What would I do if I had Hitler希特勒?
25
62880
1719
如果我抓到希特勒,我會怎麼做?
01:17
It's not hard to imagine想像
once一旦 I allow允許 myself.
26
65160
2760
這並不難想像,
只要我允許我自己想像就可以。
01:20
Sever伺服器 his spine脊柱 at the neck頸部.
27
68720
2136
把他的脊椎從頸部切斷、
01:22
Take out his eyes眼睛 with a blunt instrument儀器.
28
70880
2376
用鈍器挖出他的眼睛、
01:25
Puncture穿刺 his eardrums耳膜. Cut out his tongue.
29
73280
2776
刺穿他的耳膜、 切掉他的舌頭、
01:28
Leave離開 him alive on a respirator呼吸器,
30
76080
2136
讓他靠著呼吸器活著,
01:30
tube-fed管餵養, not able能夠 to speak說話
or move移動 or see or hear, just to feel,
31
78240
5296
用鼻胃管餵食,不能說話、不能活動、
看不見、聽不到,只是有感覺,
01:35
and then inject注入 him
with something cancerous癌的
32
83560
3256
然後對他注射致癌物質,
01:38
that's going to fester潰爛 and pustulatepustulate
33
86840
2256
讓他身上潰爛和長膿皰,
01:41
until直到 every一切 cell細胞 in his body身體
is screaming尖叫 in agony痛苦,
34
89120
3936
直到他身上的每一個細胞
都在痛苦地哀號,
01:45
until直到 every一切 second第二
feels感覺 like an eternity永恆 in hell地獄.
35
93080
3240
直到每一秒都感覺像
在地獄裡的永恆。
01:49
That's what I would do to Hitler希特勒.
36
97680
1840
我會對希特勒如此做。
01:53
I've had this fantasy幻想 since以來 I was a kid孩子,
37
101920
2016
我從小就有這個幻想,
01:55
still do sometimes有時,
38
103960
1496
到現在仍然有時還會有。
01:57
and when I do, my heart speeds速度 up --
39
105480
2656
在幻想時,我的心跳加快--
02:00
all these plans計劃 for the most evil邪惡,
wicked邪惡 soul靈魂 in history歷史.
40
108160
4880
這些對史上最邪惡、惡毒的靈魂
所做的計畫。
02:05
But there's a problem問題,
41
113840
1256
但是有個問題,
02:07
which哪一個 is I don't actually其實 believe
in souls靈魂 or evil邪惡,
42
115120
2896
就是我其實不相信靈魂或邪惡,
02:10
and I think wicked邪惡 belongs屬於 in a musical音樂.
43
118040
2536
且我認為惡毒屬於音樂劇。
(註:Wicked 是一齣音樂劇的名字)
02:12
But there's some people
I would like to see killed殺害,
44
120600
2416
我樂見某些人死掉,
02:15
but I'm against反對 the death死亡 penalty罰款.
45
123040
1816
但是我反對死刑。
02:16
But I like schlockyschlocky violent暴力 movies電影,
46
124880
2096
我喜歡低成本的暴力電影,
02:19
but I'm for strict嚴格 gun control控制.
47
127000
1776
但是我贊成嚴格管制槍械。
02:20
But then there was a time
I was at a laser激光 tag標籤 place地點,
48
128800
3056
但是有一次,
我在一個玩鐳射對戰的地方,
02:23
and I had such這樣 a good time
hiding in a corner shooting射擊 at people.
49
131880
3880
我很享受躲在角落裡射擊人。
02:28
In other words, I'm your basic基本
confused困惑 human人的 when it comes to violence暴力.
50
136360
4800
換句話說,談到暴力時,
基本上我是個很困惑的人。
02:33
Now, as a species種類, we obviously明顯
have problems問題 with violence暴力.
51
141760
3336
從整個物種的層面來看,
我們這物種顯然有暴力問題。
02:37
We use shower淋浴 heads to deliver交付 poison gas加油站,
52
145120
3056
我們使用淋浴頭來噴毒氣,
02:40
letters with anthrax炭疽病,
airplanes飛機 as weapons武器,
53
148200
3096
用信件傳播炭疽桿菌,用飛機當武器,
(註:2001 年美國有炭疽攻擊事件)
02:43
mass rape強姦 as a military軍事 strategy戰略.
54
151320
1856
以大量強暴作為軍事戰略。
02:45
We're a miserably非常不幸地 violent暴力 species種類.
55
153200
2280
我們是可悲暴力的物種。
02:47
But there's a complication並發症,
56
155920
1496
但是有個複雜的枝節,
02:49
which哪一個 is we don't hate討厭 violence暴力,
57
157440
2376
那就是我們並不憎恨暴力,
02:51
we hate討厭 the wrong錯誤 kind.
58
159840
1856
我們憎恨錯誤的暴力。
02:53
And when it's the right kind,
59
161720
1456
如果暴力是正確的,
02:55
we cheer歡呼 it on, we hand out medals獎牌,
60
163200
2496
我們為它喝采,我們頒予勳章,
02:57
we vote投票 for, we mate伴侶 with
our champions冠軍 of it.
61
165720
3136
我們投票給他們,
我們想和當中最出類拔萃者交往。
03:00
When it's the right kind of violence暴力,
62
168880
1816
如果暴力是正確的,
03:02
we love it.
63
170720
1200
我們喜愛它。
03:04
And there's another另一個 complication並發症,
64
172520
1656
還有另一個枝節,
03:06
which哪一個 is, in addition加成 to us
being存在 this miserably非常不幸地 violent暴力 species種類,
65
174200
4056
那就是,除了我們是非常暴力的物種,
03:10
we're also this extraordinarily異常
altruistic利他, compassionate富於同情心的 one.
66
178280
3800
我們也是極度利他、
有同理心的物種。
03:15
So how do you make sense
of the biology生物學 of our best最好 behaviors行為,
67
183520
3296
對於我們最好的行為、最不好的行為、
03:18
our worst最差 ones那些 and all of those
ambiguously隱約 in between之間?
68
186840
4016
在兩者之間的模糊地帶的行為,
背後的生物學理論是什麼?
03:22
Now, for starters首發,
69
190880
1256
首先,
03:24
what's totally完全 boring無聊 is understanding理解
the motoric肌肉運動 aspects方面 of the behavior行為.
70
192160
4296
去了解行為的肌肉運動面向
是非常無聊的。
03:28
Your brain tells告訴 your spine脊柱,
tells告訴 your muscles肌肉
71
196480
3176
你的大腦告訴你的脊椎,
告訴你的肌肉,
03:31
to do something or other,
72
199680
1256
去做某事或其他事,
03:32
and hooray萬歲, you've behaved.
73
200960
1936
然後,好哇~你就做出行為了。
03:34
What's hard is understanding理解
the meaning含義 of the behavior行為,
74
202920
3656
困難的是了解行為的意義,
03:38
because in some settings設置,
pulling a trigger觸發 is an appalling駭人聽聞的 act法案;
75
206600
3816
因為在某些狀況下,
扣下扳機是個駭人的行為;
03:42
in others其他, it's heroically英勇
self-sacrificial自祭祀.
76
210440
2976
但在其他情況下,
那又是英勇自我犧牲的行為。
03:45
In some settings設置, putting your hand
one someone有人 else's別人的
77
213440
2936
在某些狀況下,
將你的手放在別人的手上,
03:48
is deeply compassionate富於同情心的.
78
216400
1456
是表示深切的同情。
03:49
In others其他, it's a deep betrayal辜負.
79
217880
1896
但在其他情況下,
那則是很嚴重的背叛。
03:51
The challenge挑戰 is to understand理解
80
219800
1536
我們的挑戰是要了解
03:53
the biology生物學 of the context上下文
of our behaviors行為,
81
221360
3256
我們的行為情境背後的生物學,
03:56
and that's real真實 tough強硬.
82
224640
1600
而那是很難的。
03:59
One thing that's clear明確, though雖然,
is you're not going to get anywhere隨地
83
227040
3176
但有一點很清楚,如果你認為會有
04:02
if you think there's going to be
the brain region地區 or the hormone激素
84
230240
4416
確切的大腦區域、激素、
04:06
or the gene基因 or the childhood童年 experience經驗
85
234680
2736
基因、童年經驗
04:09
or the evolutionary發展的 mechanism機制
that explains說明 everything.
86
237440
3080
或進化機制能解釋一切,
那你是不會有進展的。
04:13
Instead代替, every一切 bit of behavior行為
has multiple levels水平 of causality因果關係.
87
241040
5120
反之,每個行為背後都有多重原因。
04:18
Let's look at an example.
88
246800
1400
我們來看一個例子。
04:20
You have a gun.
89
248840
1200
你有一支槍。
04:22
There's a crisis危機 going on:
90
250720
1576
有一個危機正在發生:
04:24
rioting騷亂, violence暴力, people running賽跑 around.
91
252320
2576
有群眾暴動,有人使用暴力,
人們跑來跑去。
04:26
A stranger陌生人 is running賽跑 at you
in an agitated激動 state --
92
254920
3176
一位陌生人很激動地跑向你——
04:30
you can't quite相當 tell if the expression表達
is frightened受驚, threatening危險的, angry憤怒 --
93
258120
5096
你無法明確判斷他的表情是
害怕、威脅或生氣——
04:35
holding保持 something
that kind of looks容貌 like a handgun手槍.
94
263240
3216
他手上拿著的東西
看起來像是一把槍。
04:38
You're not sure.
95
266480
1216
你不確定。
04:39
The stranger陌生人 comes running賽跑 at you
96
267720
1896
那個陌生人衝向你,
04:41
and you pull the trigger觸發.
97
269640
1736
而你扣下扳機了。
04:43
And it turns out
that thing in this person's人的 hand
98
271400
2936
結果,這個人的手裡的東西
04:46
was a cell細胞 phone電話.
99
274360
1200
是一支手機。
04:48
So we asked this biological生物 question:
100
276200
2216
所以我們問這個生物學問題:
04:50
what was going on
that caused造成 this behavior行為?
101
278440
3176
是什麼導致了這種行為?
04:53
What caused造成 this behavior行為?
102
281640
1896
什麼導致了這種行為?
04:55
And this is a multitude of questions問題.
103
283560
2296
這是大哉問。
04:57
We start開始.
104
285880
1216
我們開始。
04:59
What was going on in your brain
one second第二 before you pulled that trigger觸發?
105
287120
4416
你在扣下扳機前的一秒前,
你的腦子裡在想什麼?
05:03
And this brings帶來 us into the realm領域
of a brain region地區 called the amygdala杏仁核.
106
291560
3696
這就將我們帶到大腦中
被稱為杏仁核的那一區了。
05:07
The amygdala杏仁核, which哪一個 is
central中央 to violence暴力, central中央 to fear恐懼,
107
295280
3936
杏仁核是暴力和恐懼的中心,
05:11
initiates同修 volleys截擊 of cascades級聯
108
299240
2696
它會啟動一連串的反應,
05:13
that produce生產 pulling of a trigger觸發.
109
301960
2256
造成你去扣扳機。
05:16
What was the level水平 of activity活動
in your amygdala杏仁核 one second第二 before?
110
304240
3680
在前一秒鐘你的杏仁核的
活動度有多高?
05:20
But to understand理解 that,
we have to step back a little bit.
111
308880
3376
但要了解這點,我們必須後退一步。
05:24
What was going on in the environment環境
seconds to minutes分鐘 before
112
312280
3576
在幾秒鐘、幾分鐘前,
周遭的環境中發生了哪些
05:27
that impacted影響 the amygdala杏仁核?
113
315880
1736
會影響到杏仁核的事?
05:29
Now, obviously明顯, the sights景點,
the sounds聲音 of the rioting騷亂,
114
317640
3096
很顯然,是暴動的影象和聲音,
05:32
that was pertinent相關.
115
320760
1216
那是相關的。
05:34
But in addition加成,
116
322000
1216
但,此外,
05:35
you're more likely容易 to mistake錯誤
a cell細胞 phone電話 for a handgun手槍
117
323240
3456
如果那位陌生人是高大
且不同種族的男性,
05:38
if that stranger陌生人 was male
118
326720
2256
你比較有可能
05:41
and large and of a different不同 race種族.
119
329000
2600
將手機誤認為手槍。
05:44
Furthermore此外, if you're in pain疼痛,
120
332360
2136
再者,如果你正遭受痛苦,
05:46
if you're hungry飢餓, if you're exhausted,
121
334520
2176
如果你很飢餓,或是如果你累壞了,
05:48
your frontal前面的 cortex皮質
is not going to work as well,
122
336720
2536
你的前額葉皮質就不會運作得很好,
05:51
part部分 of the brain whose誰的 job工作 it is
to get to the amygdala杏仁核 in time
123
339280
3656
是腦的那一部分負責
要及時聯絡杏仁核,
05:54
saying, "Are you really sure
that's a gun there?"
124
342960
3280
並說:「你確定那是一把槍嗎?」
05:58
But we need to step further進一步 back.
125
346800
2136
但我們必須再退到更早以前。
06:00
Now we have to look
at hours小時 to days before,
126
348960
3176
我們必須看看幾小時、幾天前,
06:04
and with this, we have entered進入
the realm領域 of hormones激素.
127
352160
2976
這就帶我們進入了激素的領域了。
06:07
For example, testosterone睾酮,
128
355160
2136
例如,睪丸激素,
06:09
where regardless而不管 of your sex性別,
129
357320
1736
不管你的性別為何,
06:11
if you have elevated提高的
testosterone睾酮 levels水平 in your blood血液,
130
359080
2856
如果你血液中的睾丸激素升高了,
06:13
you're more likely容易 to think
a face面對 with a neutral中性 expression表達
131
361960
3376
你更有可能把表情中性的臉孔
06:17
is instead代替 looking threatening危險的.
132
365360
2056
當作具有威脅性。
06:19
Elevated提高的 testosterone睾酮 levels水平,
elevated提高的 levels水平 of stress強調 hormones激素,
133
367440
3856
睾丸激素升高,應激激素升高,
06:23
and your amygdala杏仁核
is going to be more active活性
134
371320
2296
會讓你的杏仁核更活躍,
06:25
and your frontal前面的 cortex皮質
will be more sluggish遲緩.
135
373640
2480
你的前額葉皮質會更遲鈍。
06:29
Pushing推動 back further進一步,
weeks to months個月 before,
136
377200
2856
再進一步推到幾週、幾個月前,
06:32
where's哪裡 the relevance關聯 there?
137
380080
1456
這時的相關性是什麼?
06:33
This is the realm領域 of neural神經 plasticity可塑性,
138
381560
2536
有個叫神經可塑性的領域,
06:36
the fact事實 that your brain
can change更改 in response響應 to experience經驗,
139
384120
3936
也就是你的大腦可以
根據經驗而改變。
06:40
and if your previous以前 months個月
have been filled填充 with stress強調 and trauma外傷,
140
388080
4176
如果你前幾個月的生活
充滿壓力和創傷,
06:44
your amygdala杏仁核 will have enlarged放大.
141
392280
1856
你的杏仁核會擴大。
06:46
The neurons神經元 will have become成為
more excitable興奮,
142
394160
2216
神經元會變得比較容易興奮,
06:48
your frontal前面的 cortex皮質 would have atrophied萎縮,
143
396400
2336
前額葉皮質會萎縮,
06:50
all relevant相應 to what happens發生
in that one second第二.
144
398760
2800
這些都與扣扳機的那一秒有關聯。
06:54
But we push back even more, back years年份,
145
402320
2656
但我們再向前追溯到幾年前,
06:57
back, for example, to your adolescence青春期.
146
405000
2496
比如,回到你的青春期。
06:59
Now, the central中央 fact事實
of the adolescent青少年 brain
147
407520
2496
青春期大腦的重要特色是,
07:02
is all of it is going full充分 blast爆破
148
410040
2736
除了前額葉皮質以外的部份,
07:04
except the frontal前面的 cortex皮質,
149
412800
1696
都是馬力全開的狀態,
07:06
which哪一個 is still half-baked半生不熟.
150
414520
1736
前額葉皮質尚未成熟,
07:08
It doesn't fully充分 mature成熟
until直到 you're around 25.
151
416280
3176
要到大約 25 歲時它才會完全成熟。
07:11
And thus從而, adolescence青春期 and early adulthood成年
152
419480
3216
因此,青春期和成年前期
07:14
are the years年份 where environment環境
and experience經驗 sculpt塑造 your frontal前面的 cortex皮質
153
422720
5136
是環境與經驗塑造
你的前額葉皮質的時期,
07:19
into the version you're going to have
as an adult成人 in that critical危急 moment時刻.
154
427880
3800
形成你在成年後
那一關鍵時刻的前額葉皮質。
07:24
But pushing推動 back even further進一步,
155
432800
1776
但再向前追溯,
07:26
even further進一步 back
to childhood童年 and fetal life
156
434600
3456
回到童年和胎兒期,
07:30
and all the different不同 versions版本
that that could come in.
157
438080
2816
以及可能形成的各式版本。
07:32
Now, obviously明顯, that's the time
that your brain is being存在 constructed,
158
440920
3256
很顯然,這個時期
你的大腦正在被建造中,
07:36
and that's important重要,
159
444200
1216
那很重要,
07:37
but in addition加成,
experience經驗 during those times
160
445440
3296
但除此之外,那些時期的經驗
07:40
produce生產 what are called
epigenetic後生 changes變化,
161
448760
2976
會產生所謂的表觀遺傳變化,
07:43
permanent常駐, in some cases,
162
451760
1656
在某些情況下,這些改變是永久性的,
07:45
permanently永久 activating激活
certain某些 genes基因, turning車削 off others其他.
163
453440
4336
會永久性地啟動某些基因、
關閉其他基因。
07:49
And as an example of this,
164
457800
1496
有一個例子可以說明。
07:51
if as a fetus胎兒 you were exposed裸露 to a lot
of stress強調 hormones激素 through通過 your mother母親,
165
459320
5016
如果在胎兒時期,你接觸到
很多來自母親的應激激素,
07:56
epigenetics表觀遺傳學 is going to produce生產
your amygdala杏仁核 in adulthood成年
166
464360
3416
表觀遺傳學會造成
你在成年期的前額葉皮質,
07:59
as a more excitable興奮 form形成,
167
467800
1936
成為比較會激動的形式,
08:01
and you're going to have
elevated提高的 stress強調 hormone激素 levels水平.
168
469760
2640
而你也將會有較高的應激激素。
08:04
But pushing推動 even further進一步 back,
169
472960
1896
再向前追溯,
08:06
back to when you were just a fetus胎兒,
170
474880
1696
回到你只是胎兒時,
08:08
back to when all you were
was a collection採集 of genes基因.
171
476600
2816
回到你只是一堆基因時。
08:11
Now, genes基因 are really
important重要 to all of this,
172
479440
2376
基因對這一切而言都很重要,
08:13
but critically危重, genes基因 don't
determine確定 anything,
173
481840
2736
但關鍵是,基因不決定什麼,
08:16
because genes基因 work differently不同
in different不同 environments環境.
174
484600
3640
因為在不同的環境中,
基因的運作會有所不同。
08:20
Key example here:
175
488640
1256
這裡有個重要的例子:
08:21
there's a variant變種 of a gene基因 called MAO-AMAO-A,
176
489920
3136
有一種基因變體叫做
MAO-A(單胺氧化酶 A),
08:25
and if you have that variant變種,
177
493080
1656
如果你有那種基因,
08:26
you are far more likely容易
to commit承諾 antisocial反社會的 violence暴力
178
494760
4656
你就非常有可能會做出
反社會的暴力行為,
08:31
if, and only if,
you were abused濫用 as a child兒童.
179
499440
3976
但前提是,你在孩提時被虐待過。
08:35
Genes基因 and environment環境 interact相互作用,
180
503440
2376
基因和環境會交互作用,
08:37
and what's happening事件 in that one second第二
before you pull that trigger觸發
181
505840
3616
在你扣下扳機前一秒所發生的事,
08:41
reflects反映 your lifetime一生
of those gene-environment基因 - 環境 interactions互動.
182
509480
4240
反應出的是你一生中的
基因和環境的交互作用。
08:46
Now, remarkably異常 enough足夠,
we've我們已經 got to push even further進一步 back now,
183
514679
3617
現在,我們還要再向前追溯,
08:50
back centuries百年.
184
518320
1376
回到幾世紀前。
08:51
What were your ancestors祖先 up to.
185
519720
2336
你的祖先在做什麼?
08:54
And if, for example,
they were nomadic游牧 pastoralists牧民,
186
522080
3176
比如,他們是遊牧的放牧者,
08:57
they were pastoralists牧民,
187
525280
1256
他們是放牧者,
08:58
people living活的 in deserts沙漠 or grasslands草原
188
526560
2576
住在沙漠或草原的人,
09:01
with their herds牛群 of camels駱駝, cows奶牛, goats山羊,
189
529160
2656
帶著他們成群的駱駝、牛隻、山羊,
09:03
odds可能性 are they would have invented發明
what's called a culture文化 of honor榮譽
190
531840
4056
有可能他們發明了所謂的榮譽文化,
09:07
filled填充 with warrior戰士 classes,
191
535920
2216
這種文化充滿了勇士階級、
09:10
retributive報應 violence暴力, clan氏族 vendettas仇殺,
192
538160
2696
懲罰式的暴力、家族世仇。
09:12
and amazingly令人驚訝, centuries百年 later後來,
193
540880
2256
驚人的是,幾世紀之後,
09:15
that would still be influencing影響
the values with which哪一個 you were raised上調.
194
543160
3680
那仍然會影響到養育你的價值觀。
09:19
But we've我們已經 got to push even further進一步 back,
195
547800
2136
但我們還要再向回追溯,
09:21
back millions百萬 of years年份,
196
549960
1736
再向前數百萬年,
09:23
because if we're talking about genes基因,
197
551720
2056
因為如果我們要談論基因,
09:25
implicitly隱式 we're now talking
about the evolution演化 of genes基因.
198
553800
3656
背後其實就是在談基因的演化。
09:29
And what you see is, for example,
199
557480
2216
比如,你所看見的這個,
09:31
patterns模式 across橫過 different不同 primate靈長類動物 species種類.
200
559720
2496
是跨不同靈長數物種的模式。
09:34
Some of them have evolved進化
for extremely非常 low levels水平 of aggression侵略,
201
562240
4416
有些在演化之後的
侵略程度是極低的,
09:38
others其他 have evolved進化
in the opposite對面 direction方向,
202
566680
2536
其他的演化方向則恰恰相反,
09:41
and floating漂浮的 there in between之間
by every一切 measure測量 are humans人類,
203
569240
3896
而落在兩者之間的,就是人類,
09:45
once一旦 again this confused困惑,
barely僅僅 defined定義 species種類
204
573160
3896
這個困惑且幾乎不明確的物種,
09:49
that has all these potentials潛力
to go one way or the other.
205
577080
3240
會朝哪個方向偏移都是有可能的。
09:53
So what has this gotten得到 us to?
206
581560
1816
所以這代表什麼?
09:55
Basically基本上, what we're seeing眼看 here is,
207
583400
1976
基本上,我們在這裡所看到的是,
09:57
if you want to understand理解 a behavior行為,
208
585400
1896
如果你想要了解一個行為,
09:59
whether是否 it's an appalling駭人聽聞的 one,
a wondrous奇妙 one,
209
587320
2856
不論是駭人的行為、
令人驚奇的行為,
10:02
or confusedly稀里糊塗 in between之間,
210
590200
1736
或在當中模糊地帶的行為,
10:03
if you want to understand理解 that,
211
591960
1536
如果你想了解它,
10:05
you've got take into account帳戶
what happened發生 a second第二 before
212
593520
3456
你需要考量的
是從一秒前發生了什麼,
10:09
to a million百萬 years年份 before,
213
597000
1456
一直到數百萬年前發生了什麼,
10:10
everything in between之間.
214
598480
1656
中間的一切都要考量。
10:12
So what can we conclude得出結論 at this point?
215
600160
1976
所以,在這個時點,
我們能下什麼結論?
10:14
Officially正式, it's complicated複雜.
216
602160
2296
正式宣佈,這極為複雜。
10:16
Wow, that's really helpful有幫助.
217
604480
1616
哇,這實在太有幫助。
10:18
It's complicated複雜,
218
606120
1256
這極為複雜,
10:19
and you'd better be
real真實 careful小心, real真實 cautious謹慎
219
607400
3576
你最好要非常小心、非常謹慎,
10:23
before you conclude得出結論
you know what causes原因 a behavior行為,
220
611000
3336
不要輕易認定
你知道一個行為的成因,
10:26
especially特別 if it's a behavior行為
you're judging判斷 harshly粗暴地.
221
614360
2760
特別是針對你在嚴厲評斷的行為。
10:30
Now, to me, the single most important重要
point about all of this
222
618600
3976
對我來說,這一切當中
最重要的一點
10:34
is one having to do with change更改.
223
622600
2376
和改變有關。
10:37
Every一切 bit of biology生物學 I have mentioned提到 here
can change更改 in different不同 circumstances情況.
224
625000
6376
我在這裡所提到的所有生物學
都有可能在不同的情況下有所改變。
10:43
For example, ecosystems生態系統 change更改.
225
631400
2816
比如,生態系統會改變。
10:46
Thousands成千上萬 of years年份 ago,
the Sahara撒哈拉 was a lush青蔥的 grassland草原.
226
634240
4416
數千年前,薩哈拉沙漠是蒼翠的草原。
10:50
Cultures文化 change更改.
227
638680
1616
文化會改變。
10:52
In the 17th century世紀, the most terrifying可怕的
people in Europe歐洲 were the Swedes瑞典人,
228
640320
4336
十七世紀最可怕的歐洲人是瑞典人,
10:56
rampaging狂暴 all over the place地點.
229
644680
1736
狂暴的行為遍及各處。
10:58
This is what the Swedish瑞典
military軍事 does now.
230
646440
2176
現在,瑞典軍隊做的是這種事。
11:00
They haven't沒有 had a war戰爭 in 200 years年份.
231
648640
1840
他們已經有兩百年沒有過戰爭了。
11:03
Most importantly重要的,
232
651280
1456
最重要的是,
11:04
brains大腦 change更改.
233
652760
1616
大腦會改變。
11:06
Neurons神經元 grow增長 new processes流程.
234
654400
2016
神經元會長出新的進程,
11:08
Circuits電路 disconnect斷開.
235
656440
1456
有些迴路會斷開,
11:09
Everything in the brain changes變化,
236
657920
1656
大腦中的一切都會改變,
11:11
and out of this come extraordinary非凡
examples例子 of human人的 change更改.
237
659600
5200
這就造成了人類改變的非凡例子。
11:17
First one:
238
665400
1616
第一個例子:
11:19
this is a man named命名 John約翰 Newton牛頓,
239
667040
1696
這個人名叫約翰牛頓,
11:20
a British英國的 theologian神學家
240
668760
1336
是位英國神學家,
11:22
who played發揮 a central中央 role角色 in the abolition廢除
of slavery奴隸制度 from the British英國的 Empire帝國
241
670120
4736
在 1800 年代前期大英帝國
廢除奴隸事件中
11:26
in the early 1800s.
242
674880
2016
扮演中心角色。
11:28
And amazingly令人驚訝, this man
spent花費 decades幾十年 as a younger更年輕 man
243
676920
4736
驚人的是,這個人年輕時
當了數十年的奴隸船船長,
11:33
as the captain隊長 of a slave奴隸 ship,
244
681680
2136
11:35
and then as an investor投資者 in slavery奴隸制度,
245
683840
2936
接著又去當奴隸制度的投資者,
11:38
growing生長 rich豐富 from this.
246
686800
2136
透過奴隸制度致富。
11:40
And then something changed.
247
688960
2656
接著,某樣東西改變了。
11:43
Something changed in him,
248
691640
1536
他內在的某樣東西改變了,
11:45
something that Newton牛頓 himself他自己 celebrated著名
in the thing that he's most famous著名 for,
249
693200
5256
是牛頓自己頌讚的,他最著名的,
11:50
a hymn聖歌 that he wrote:
250
698480
1616
是他所寫的聖歌:
11:52
"Amazing驚人 Grace恩典."
251
700120
1400
《奇異恩典》。
11:55
This is a man named命名 Zenji禪師 Abe安倍晉三
on the morning早上 of December十二月 6, 1941,
252
703040
4896
1941 年 12 月 6 日早上,
這位名叫安倍普三的人,
11:59
about to lead a squadron of Japanese日本
bombers轟炸機 to attack攻擊 Pearl珍珠 Harbor港口.
253
707960
4976
準備要帶領一個日本
轟炸機小隊去攻擊珍珠港。
12:04
And this is the same相同 man
50 years年份 later後來 to the day
254
712960
3536
這是同一個人在五十年後,
12:08
hugging擁抱 a man who survived倖存
the attack攻擊 on the ground地面.
255
716520
3576
擁抱當年地面上被轟炸的倖存者。
12:12
And as an old man,
256
720120
1416
安倍到了這麼年邁時,
12:13
Zenji禪師 Abe安倍晉三 came來了 to a collection採集
of Pearl珍珠 Harbor港口 survivors倖存者
257
721560
4416
他在珍珠港辦的一個儀式中,
12:18
at a ceremony儀式 there
258
726000
1416
向許多當年的生還者,
12:19
and in halting暫停 English英語 apologized道歉
for what he had doneDONE as a young年輕 man.
259
727440
4320
用結結巴巴的英語,
針對他年輕時所做的道歉。
12:24
Now, it doesn't always require要求 decades幾十年.
260
732760
1896
不見得總要幾十年的時間,
12:26
Sometimes有時, extraordinary非凡 change更改
could happen發生 in just hours小時.
261
734680
3696
有時非凡的改變
可能在幾小時內就會發生。
12:30
Consider考慮 the World世界 War戰爭 I
Christmas聖誕 truce休戰 of 1914.
262
738400
4376
試想 1914 年第一次世界大戰的
聖誕節休戰,
12:34
The powers權力 that be
had negotiated a brief簡要 truce休戰
263
742800
3136
通過談判達成短暫的休戰,
12:37
so that soldiers士兵 could go out,
264
745960
1616
士兵可以出去,
12:39
collect蒐集 bodies身體 from no-man's-land無人區
in between之間 the trench lines.
265
747600
3896
在兩戰壕間的無人之地撿回屍體。
12:43
And soon不久 British英國的 and German德語 soldiers士兵
266
751520
2936
很快地,英國和德國士兵
12:46
were doing that,
267
754480
1456
就這麼做了,
12:47
and then helping幫助 each other carry攜帶 bodies身體,
268
755960
2456
他們還協助彼此搬運屍體,
12:50
and then helping幫助 each other
dig graves墳墓 in the frozen凍結的 ground地面,
269
758440
3656
協助彼此在冰凍之地挖墓地,
12:54
and then praying祈禱 together一起,
270
762120
1256
然後一起禱告,
12:55
and then having Christmas聖誕 together一起
and exchanging交換 gifts禮品,
271
763400
2816
一起過聖誕節,交換禮物,
12:58
and by the next下一個 day,
they were playing播放 soccer足球 together一起
272
766240
3216
等到隔天,他們已經
在一起踢足球了,
13:01
and exchanging交換 addresses地址
so they could meet遇到 after the war戰爭.
273
769480
3376
交換地址,這樣在戰後才能再見面。
13:04
That truce休戰 kept不停 going
until直到 the officers長官 had to arrive到達
274
772880
3976
這段休戰一直持續著,
直到軍官抵達,
13:08
and said, "We will shoot射擊 you
275
776880
1496
說:「你們要繼續回去跟對方廝殺,
13:10
unless除非 you go back
to trying to kill each other."
276
778400
2496
不然我們就會射殺你。」
13:12
And all it took here was hours小時
277
780920
2136
在這個事件中只花了幾小時,
13:15
for these men男人 to develop發展
a completely全然 new category類別 of "us,"
278
783080
4336
這些人就發展出了
全新的「我們」定義,
13:19
all of us in the trenches戰壕 here
279
787440
1896
是所有在戰壕中的我們,
13:21
on both sides雙方, dying垂死 for no damn該死的 reason原因,
280
789360
2776
不論哪一方,沒有原因就送死的人;
13:24
and who is a "them,"
those faceless不露面 powers權力 behind背後 the lines
281
792160
3656
也重新定義了「他們」,
那些躲在戰線後的掌權者,
13:27
who were using運用 them as pawns棋子.
282
795840
1600
用這些士兵當棋子的人。
13:30
And sometimes有時,
change更改 can occur發生 in seconds.
283
798680
3200
有時,改變會在幾秒間就發生。
13:34
Probably大概 the most horrifying可怕的 event事件
in the Vietnam越南 War戰爭
284
802720
3336
在越戰中最可怕的事件應該就是
13:38
was the My Lai Massacre屠殺.
285
806080
1896
美萊村屠殺。
13:40
A brigade of American美國 soldiers士兵
286
808000
2016
美軍的一個軍旅
13:42
went into an undefended不設防
village full充分 of civilians老百姓
287
810040
3016
進入一個沒有防禦的村子,
村中都是平民,
13:45
and killed殺害 between之間 350 and 500 of them,
288
813080
3536
他們屠殺了 350 到 500 人,
13:48
mass-raped大規模強姦 women婦女 and children孩子,
289
816640
2856
大量強暴了女人和孩童,
13:51
mutilated肢解 bodies身體.
290
819520
1576
破壞屍體。
13:53
It was appalling駭人聽聞的.
291
821120
1216
這事件十分駭人聽聞。
13:54
It was appalling駭人聽聞的 because it occurred發生,
because the government政府 denied否認 it,
292
822360
4256
這事件十分駭人聽聞,因為
它發生了,因為政府否認了,
13:58
because the US government政府 eventually終於
did nothing more than a slap拍擊 on the wrist,
293
826640
4376
因為美國政府最後的處理等同於
在自己的手腕上打一下那麼輕微,
14:03
and appalling駭人聽聞的 because it almost幾乎 certainly當然
was not a singular單數 event事件.
294
831040
4256
這事件十分駭人聽聞,因為幾乎
可肯定它不是單一事件。
14:07
This man, Hugh Thompson湯普森, this is the man
who stopped停止 the My Lai Massacre屠殺.
295
835320
5096
這個人,休湯普森,
阻止了美萊村屠殺。
14:12
He was piloting試點 a helicopter直升機 gunship武裝直升機,
296
840440
2616
他駕駛一架武裝直升機,
14:15
landed登陸 there, got out
297
843080
1816
降落在當地,下了直升機,
14:16
and saw American美國 soldiers士兵 shooting射擊 babies嬰兒,
298
844920
3056
看見美國士兵在射殺幼兒,
14:20
shooting射擊 old women婦女,
299
848000
1376
射殺老女人,
14:21
figured想通 out what was going on,
300
849400
1896
他明白發生了什麼事,
14:23
and he then took his helicopter直升機
301
851320
2096
然後他駕著直升機,
14:25
and did something that undid已撤消
his lifetime一生 of conditioning空調
302
853440
3976
做了一件事,這事推翻了他這一生
對於誰是「我們」
誰是「他們」的判定。
14:29
as to who is an "us" and who is a "them."
303
857440
2056
14:31
He landed登陸 his helicopter直升機
304
859520
1856
他把他的直升機降落在
14:33
in between之間 some surviving倖存 villagers村民
and American美國 soldiers士兵
305
861400
3616
存活居民和美國士兵中間,
14:37
and he trained熟練 his machine guns槍砲
on his fellow同伴 Americans美國人,
306
865040
3656
他把他的重機槍對準了
他的美國同伴,
14:40
and said, "If you don't stop the killing謀殺,
I will mow you down."
307
868720
3880
說:「如果你們不停止殺戮,
我會把你們全消滅。」
14:46
Now, these people
are no more special特別 than any of us.
308
874560
2976
這些人並沒有比我們任何人還特別,
14:49
Same相同 neurons神經元, same相同 neurochemicals神經化學物質,
309
877560
2576
同樣的神經元、同樣的神經化學物質、
14:52
same相同 biology生物學.
310
880160
1320
同樣的生物學。
14:54
What we're left with here
is this inevitable必然 cliche陳詞濫調:
311
882400
3376
最後我們剩下這無可避免的老調:
14:57
"Those who don't study研究 history歷史
are destined注定 to repeat重複 it."
312
885800
2736
「不研讀歷史的人
注定會重蹈覆轍。」
15:00
What we have here is the opposite對面 of it.
313
888560
2176
我們這裡的狀況卻完全相反。
15:02
Those who don't study研究 the history歷史
of extraordinary非凡 human人的 change更改,
314
890760
4256
那些不研讀非凡人類變化歷史的人,
15:07
those who don't study研究 the biology生物學
of what can transform轉變 us
315
895040
3536
那些不研讀生物學——
什麼能把最糟作為轉化為
最佳作為的生物學——的人,
15:10
from our worst最差 to our best最好 behaviors行為,
316
898600
2496
15:13
those who don't do this
are destined注定 not to be able能夠
317
901120
3056
那些不這麼做的人,注定不能夠
15:16
to repeat重複 these incandescent白熾燈,
magnificent華麗的 moments瞬間.
318
904200
3880
重覆這些燦爛偉大的時刻。
15:20
So thank you.
319
908480
1200
謝謝大家。
15:22
(Applause掌聲)
320
910040
4080
(掌聲)
15:32
CACA: Talks會談 that really give you
a new mental心理 model模型 about something,
321
920040
3496
克里斯安德森:有些演說真的能帶給
我們對某些事物的新心理模型,
15:35
those are some of my favorite喜愛 TEDTED Talks會談,
322
923560
1936
我最喜歡這類的 TED 演說,
15:37
and we just got one.
323
925520
1720
這場就是其中之一。
15:39
Robert羅伯特, thank you so much for that.
Good luck運氣 with the book.
324
927960
2856
羅勃,非常謝謝你。
祝你的新書順利。
15:42
That was amazing驚人,
325
930840
1256
這演說太棒了,
15:44
and we're going to try and get you
to come here in person one year.
326
932120
3176
將來我們一定要找一年
邀請你親自到這裡來演說。
15:47
Thank you so much.
327
935320
1216
非常謝謝你。
15:48
RSRS: Thank you. Thank you all.
328
936560
1480
羅勃薩波斯基:謝謝你,謝謝大家。
Translated by Lilian Chiu
Reviewed by Helen Chang

▲Back to top

ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Robert Sapolsky - Neuroscientist, primatologist, writer
Robert Sapolsky is one of the leading neuroscientists in the world, studying stress in primates (including humans).

Why you should listen

We all have some measure of stress, and Robert Sapolsky explores its causes as well as its effects on our bodies (his lab was among the first to document the damage that stress can do to our hippocampus). In his research, he follows a population of wild baboons in Kenya, who experience stress very similarly to the way humans do. By measuring hormone levels and stress-related diseases in each primate, he determines their relative stress, looking for patterns in personality and social behavior that might contribute. These exercises have given Sapolsky amazing insight into all primate social behavior, including our own.

He has been called "one of the best scientist-writers of our time" by Oliver Sacks. Sapolsky has produced, in addition to numerous scientific papers, books for broader audiences, including A Primate’s Memoir: A Neuroscientist’s Unconventional Life Among the Baboons, Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers: Stress Disease and Coping, and The Trouble with Testosterone.

His latest book, Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst, examines human behavior in search of an answer to the question: Why do we do the things we do?

More profile about the speaker
Robert Sapolsky | Speaker | TED.com