How much does animal behavior explain human behavior?

heres a link thats kind of related. it's a podcast by this american life called testosterone. it chronicles the behavior of a man who stopped producing it and a woman undergoing a sex change who received too much. it's interesting to note the change in behavior and attitude caused by the alteration of this hormone. sometimes we think that we are the drivers in our life and it may turn out that ones attitudes and behavior are far more driven by "animal instinct" (biological processes).

Testosterone | This American Life

here's an article discussing the similarities between animal and human suicide.

Animal Suicide Sheds Light on Human Behavior : Discovery News

I don't think a lot of animal behaviors can explain human behavior, unless it's from the primate group. Even then.. it seems like it would be limited in explaining only our instinctual primitive behaviors. I'm under the impression that animalistic primitive behaviors are still very prevalent in our lives though..

Well, it's assumed that lower level functions like our basic needs and drives are similar (food, sex, sleep, etc) but the higher-level functions like decision making and planning can be studied in primates to a small extent but are mostly uniquely human.

In response to a few who said that some behaviors can be explained by animal behavior, and others not - how do we separate the two?

In attraction and reproduction for example, human emotion and human rationale; -and- the biological drives are all intertwined. It would be impossible to take a scalpel and sever them, to analyze them apart from one another.

Because the two are so mixed, it becomes something different entirely as a whole - much more complex than: "Well chimpanzees do x for whatever reason; I have seen some people do it too, so that explains it!" The appearance of a similar behavior could have a much more complicated drive, behind it - and it does.

Originally Posted by RighteousRob

I define suffering as such as what I go through when I have to read such ridiculous challenges as the one you presented..

Humans commit some of the most vile and despicable acts out of any creature on this planet, not because of the actions themselves but because of the reasons behind them. Animals may do some awful things to each other but it serves a purpose, what we do we do because of our "superior" minds. If you really need someone to provide examples for you then... I don't even know.

it's pointless attempts at rationalization like the one your trying to create that fills me with contempt for our entire species.

Normally it's good practice to post something actually relevant to the topic at hand rather than spiel about how bad humanity is because you think humans are evil.

Originally Posted by RighteousRob

I still think our biggest mistake is we wrongly assume we are a superior breed of beast. Just because we do things differently from the rest of the animal kingdom does not mean we do it better. Regardless of abstract thought we are still quite primitive.

As opposed to what? Why do you say that humans are primitive? If humans are primitive, what isn't primitive?

i hate to make semantic arguments but in reading the thread i can't help but think that there is no behavior that we have that is not animal behavior because we are animals. to say that reason for example, sets us apart from the animals would be like saying a long neck separate giraffes from the animals. i do understand the spirit of the discussion. human beings also have a sense of morality and communion with one another and an awareness that other animals don't have. these are adaption’s in opinion. they are our long neck.

of course to say this doesn't justify immoral behavior (we are animals and animals rape, therefore rape is ok). another quality we have grown to posses is empathy and the desire for justice.

\damn internet

\damn internet

Originally Posted by Diphenhydramine

Normally it's good practice to post something actually relevant to the topic at hand rather than spiel about how bad humanity is because you think humans are evil.

As opposed to what? Why do you say that humans are primitive? If humans are primitive, what isn't primitive?

Considering I was replying to a question addressed to me in regards to a post I had made that was on topic I believe I was still within my rights to do so.

On another note it's usually good manners to mind your own business when something that wasn't directed at you is brought up. Basically get off your high horse before you cast judgments.


I said humans are not superior. superior does not equal primitive. Seriously and I am the one not using good practice? How are you on topic at all? Good god what is wrong with people, and the saddest part is others agreed with you.




NOW ON TO THE TOPIC, OR AT LEAST I HOPE SO, I WONDER IF I CAN EVEN TELL!



you're all arrogant, it shows in everything you do, everything you say. The average person cares more about themselves and those closest to them. How can I say this? Because if it wasn't true then the world wouldn't be so shitty. Try to open your eyes people. We are no better then the animals that eat decomposing flesh. We do what we must to survive, looking out for the "herd" is just another way to ensure our survival because without it our chances would diminish. I don't know why I bother to waste my time explaining things that are obviously too hard to comprehend by people that can't look past themselves.