Sex is the Answer

Thanks Goodness for a Big Sister - Nepal. Photo by JoAnn Sturman

W.R. Priskna

fliesinyoureyes.com


In order to encourage subscribers to participate in an on line survey, Foreign Affairs Magazine offered responders a reprint from an archived edition. It was bound to be an interesting and well written piece considering the caliber of writers who contribute to the magazine. Recipients were not disappointed when they downloaded “A Natural History of Peace” published in January 2006 by Robert M. Sapolsky, who is not a political scientist, economist, or politician, but Professor of Biologic Sciences, Neurology, and Neurological Sciences at Stanford University. How does an academic acclaimed for his research in primates connect to the world of foreign affairs?

Many scientists ascribe we humans are violent by nature, and it is simply beyond our innate capability to avoid perpetual conflict. This is where Sapolsky differs by citing research in primates to demonstrate that aggressive behavior can be modified, defying the aphorism “once violent, always violent.”

Less aggressive species like gibbons and marmosets tend to live in lush forests with plentiful food. Males and females are of equal size, mate for life, and males lack imposing secondary sexual markers such as large canines and bright coloring. Sharing of food and mutual grooming are common group behaviors.

Violent species such as baboons, chimpanzees, and rhesus monkeys exhibit behavior nearly the opposite of their pacific cousins. The societies are hierarchical where there is marked aggression directed against bystanders, most males die violent deaths, the dominant male attempts to mate with as many females as possible, and resources tend to be relatively scarce. It would appear a sexless life is in store for the non alpha male, but observations show there is hope for Mr. Nice Guy. Evidently, females are likely to join in covert sexual encounters with males who treat them well even thought they have smaller muscles and less aggressive dispositions. Sharing, grooming, and treating the ladies gently has decided advantages when mating season arrives.

The poster primate for non aggression is the bonobo or pygmy chimp. Their DNA has a 98% congruence with humans, but bonobo interaction is virtually free of violence. The society is matriarchal, where frequent and uninhibited sex is the mainstay. Paired sex, group sex, sex among all ages, heterosexual sex, and homosexual sex occur spontaneously with great regularity. It appears to be the mechanism by which bonobos defuse conflict and resolve differences.

Chimpanzees have the same 98% DNA concordance with humans, but their behavior is more like humans than the bonobo. Can these aggressive species learn to change behavior patterns to become less combative? The author cites a number of clever primate experiments where they have been shown to adapt the traits of less aggressive groups. These adaptations can be made quickly if the situation permits.

When an individual is shown a picture of someone who is culturally or racially distinct from them, the amygdala, an area of the brain responsible for deep seated emotions, becomes active. This can be documented with PET scans and supports the contention this area is the “xenophobic” center of the brain which signals aggression and wariness. Interestingly enough, this response is muted in subjects who have had extensive experience with cultures other than their own, or if the picture is of an individual rather than a group of people.

This ability for primates to change their behavior is the crux of the paper. The author contends the close genetic similarity between humans and certain primates opens the possibility for humans to learn to become less aggressive when dealing with others. However, this optimistic view assumes primate studies apply to human behavior. If peace were mankind’s norm, then hostility and warfare would be rare. In nearly every instance throughout history when a weak country is confronted by strong adversary, the former is conquered. So before resorting to laissez faire sex to solve problems, it is wise and historically savvy to maintain a strong defense and thank the Founding Fathers for incorporating the 2nd Amendment into the Constitution.