[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:00.72,0:00:03.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, I have known\Nmany alpha males in my life,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:04.52,0:00:06.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,chimpanzee alpha males,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:07.00,0:00:10.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I'm going to talk\Nabout what an alpha male is,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:10.44,0:00:14.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I think we can all learn\Na lot from our close relatives
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.48,0:00:16.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where we have alpha males.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:16.60,0:00:21.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And as an example, I want to give you\NAmos, a male that I knew
Dialogue: 0,0:00:21.08,0:00:23.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who was a young male\Nand he was alpha male,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:23.32,0:00:24.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he was very popular,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.76,0:00:26.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but he got sick
Dialogue: 0,0:00:26.88,0:00:30.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he lost his position because,\Nyou know, chimpanzee males
Dialogue: 0,0:00:30.08,0:00:32.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they can spot from a mile away\Nif you are weak
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.96,0:00:34.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they went for him,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:34.36,0:00:37.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he lost his position,\Nand then he got sicker and sicker
Dialogue: 0,0:00:37.36,0:00:40.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,until at some point we had to isolate him.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.28,0:00:44.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The group lived on a grassy island,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:44.04,0:00:46.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we had to isolate him in a cage,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.40,0:00:49.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we cracked open the cage\Nso that the rest of the chimps
Dialogue: 0,0:00:49.24,0:00:50.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,still had access to him.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.76,0:00:52.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what happened was most touching.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:52.92,0:00:55.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Other chimps would bring food to him,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:55.72,0:00:57.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they would bring wood wool to him,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.68,0:01:01.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is this thing that they use\Nto sleep in and build nests out of,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:01.24,0:01:04.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and females would put\Nthe wood wool behind his back.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:04.12,0:01:06.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was leaning heavily against the wall,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.08,0:01:10.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the way we do with pillows\Nto patients in a hospital,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:10.48,0:01:12.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they were putting\Nthat stuff behind his back.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:12.64,0:01:16.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I thought, this is the way\Nto go for an alpha male.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:16.04,0:01:20.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He was loved and respected,\Nand everyone was taking care of him,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:20.04,0:01:21.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this is not always how it goes,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:21.76,0:01:25.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because some males don't end so well\Nwhen they lose their position.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.48,0:01:30.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So Amos was an example\Nof a male who was liked as a leader,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.68,0:01:34.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I think the term alpha male,\Nif you look it up on the internet,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.12,0:01:37.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you will find all these business books\Nthat tell you how to be an alpha male,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.80,0:01:40.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and what they mean\Nis how to beat up others
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.20,0:01:43.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and beat them over the head\Nand let them know that you are boss
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.20,0:01:44.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and don't mess with me and so on.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:44.96,0:01:47.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And basically an alpha male\Nfor them is a bully.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.88,0:01:52.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I really don't like\Nthat kind of description,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.52,0:01:56.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I am actually partly responsible\Nfor the term "alpha male"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:56.76,0:01:59.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because I wrote this book\N"Chimpanzee Politics,"
Dialogue: 0,0:01:59.04,0:02:04.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was recommended by Newt Gingrich\Nto freshmen congressmen.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.52,0:02:08.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I don't know what good it did,\Nbut he recommended that book to them,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.28,0:02:11.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and after that the term\N"alpha male" became very popular.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.48,0:02:15.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I think it is used\Nin a mischaracterization.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.76,0:02:18.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's used in a very superficial way
Dialogue: 0,0:02:18.12,0:02:20.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that doesn't relate\Nto what a real alpha male is.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.72,0:02:23.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so I'm here to explain what that is.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.20,0:02:25.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The term itself goes back\Nactually much further.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:25.88,0:02:29.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It goes back to the '40s and '50s,\Nresearch on wolves,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:29.60,0:02:31.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and basically the definition\Nis very simple.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:31.72,0:02:33.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The highest ranking male\Nis the alpha male.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:33.76,0:02:36.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The highest ranking female\Nis the alpha female.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:36.04,0:02:39.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Every primate group\Nhas one alpha male, one alpha female,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:39.92,0:02:41.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,not more than that, there's only one.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.00,0:02:44.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I will explain how that goes.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:45.24,0:02:47.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So first, the body language.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.48,0:02:51.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What you see here is two male chimpanzees\Nwho are the same size,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:51.56,0:02:53.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but one is walking upright,\Nhas his hair up,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:54.00,0:02:56.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has a big rock in his hand,\Nand he's the alpha male.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:56.60,0:02:59.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The other male is pant-grunting to him,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:59.08,0:03:02.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is being submissive to him\Nand bowing for him,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.16,0:03:05.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that is the sort of ritual they need\Nto go through many times a day
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.56,0:03:07.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in order to have a stable relationship.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.40,0:03:11.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'll show you a video from the field.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.28,0:03:14.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What you will see here\Nis a female pant-grunting to an alpha male
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.84,0:03:16.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you will see how that goes.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.12,0:03:18.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The male is approaching,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:18.56,0:03:19.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,she grunts at him.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.92,0:03:21.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Chimpanzee grunts)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:21.44,0:03:23.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He has all his hair up
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.68,0:03:25.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and he displays.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.24,0:03:29.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I'm actually standing far too close.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:29.64,0:03:32.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A chimpanzee is far stronger than I am,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:32.68,0:03:36.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I just was not very prudent,\Nthis particular video.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.52,0:03:39.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what you saw him do
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.68,0:03:42.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is he was lifting himself up\Nand standing on two legs,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.68,0:03:43.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and putting his arms out.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.96,0:03:45.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's called the bipedal swagger.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:45.64,0:03:48.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's a very common posture\Nin high-ranking males,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.40,0:03:51.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's very recognizable\Nbecause humans do this kind of stuff.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:51.48,0:03:52.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.72,0:03:54.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Humans do this all the time.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.24,0:03:58.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what I really like\Nabout this particular picture
Dialogue: 0,0:03:58.64,0:04:00.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is the two old guys to the side.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:01.48,0:04:03.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is very chimpanzee.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.24,0:04:04.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In chimpanzees,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:04.64,0:04:07.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we have usually old males\Nwho are over the hill,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.84,0:04:10.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who cannot be alpha male\Nthemselves anymore,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:10.88,0:04:13.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but they start playing games\Nand forming coalitions,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:13.72,0:04:15.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and behind the backs of others.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.64,0:04:17.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they become extremely influential,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:17.52,0:04:19.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you may actually have old males
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.64,0:04:22.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who are more influential\Nthan the alpha male himself.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.00,0:04:24.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Just as an example,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:24.64,0:04:27.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the three males\Nthat I used to work with most
Dialogue: 0,0:04:27.08,0:04:29.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,at the Dutch zoo long ago, where I worked,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.56,0:04:33.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the middle male here\Nis a 17-year-old alpha male.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.92,0:04:38.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The male whom he is grooming\Non the side is twice as old,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.28,0:04:41.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this old male has made him the leader.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.08,0:04:44.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So you can imagine that that old male\Nhas an enormous amount of power,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.44,0:04:46.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because he has made\Nthe alpha male alpha male.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:46.80,0:04:48.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The male on the right
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.48,0:04:50.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is individually the strongest male.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:50.96,0:04:53.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In captivity, you can test it out,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.72,0:04:57.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you can know that this male\Nhas no trouble with either one.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:57.32,0:05:00.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,He has only trouble\Nwith the combination of the two.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.08,0:05:04.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so the coalition formation\Nthat goes on in chimpanzee society
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.28,0:05:06.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,makes it much more complex than you think.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.36,0:05:08.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It means, for example,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.20,0:05:11.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the smallest male in a group\Ncan be the alpha male.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.20,0:05:13.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You don't need to be\Nthe biggest and strongest male.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:13.68,0:05:17.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The smallest male, if he has\Nthe right friends and keeps them happy,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.40,0:05:18.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or he has female support,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.92,0:05:21.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,he can be the alpha male.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.28,0:05:24.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the coalition system\Nmakes everything complex,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.76,0:05:27.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I'm always waiting here in the US
Dialogue: 0,0:05:27.16,0:05:29.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for the primaries,\Nthe end of the primaries,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.28,0:05:33.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because that's a moment\Nwhere you need to demonstrate unity.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:33.08,0:05:36.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now let me first show you\Nhow the unity is shown in chimpanzees.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:36.68,0:05:38.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What you see here is two males on the left
Dialogue: 0,0:05:38.96,0:05:40.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who are standing together.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.24,0:05:42.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You also see the big\Ncanine teeth that they have.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:42.64,0:05:46.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And they're standing together and they\Ndemonstrate to the rest of the group,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.24,0:05:48.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,"We are together. We are a unit."
Dialogue: 0,0:05:48.84,0:05:51.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The males on the right\Nare walking together in synchrony.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.80,0:05:54.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's another way of demonstrating\Nthat you are together.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.64,0:05:57.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so demonstrating unity\Nis extremely important
Dialogue: 0,0:05:57.88,0:05:59.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a coalition system,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.52,0:06:02.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and as I said, in the primaries\Nalways I'm waiting for that moment
Dialogue: 0,0:06:02.68,0:06:05.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because then you have\Ntwo members of the same party
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.68,0:06:07.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who have been fighting with each other,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:07.60,0:06:10.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they need to come\Ntogether at some moment.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:10.04,0:06:12.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it leads to very awkward situations.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:13.00,0:06:15.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,People who don't like each other\Nneed to embrace each other
Dialogue: 0,0:06:15.84,0:06:17.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and stand together,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:17.12,0:06:20.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's absolutely essential\Nfor the unity of the party,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:20.64,0:06:23.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and if you don't do that,\Nthe party may fall apart.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:23.20,0:06:26.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so if it doesn't go well,\Nlike in this particular case --
Dialogue: 0,0:06:26.12,0:06:27.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:06:27.44,0:06:29.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,then the party is in deep doo-doo
Dialogue: 0,0:06:29.24,0:06:31.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they have not demonstrated unity.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:32.32,0:06:35.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So that's a very important part\Nof the coalition system,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:35.40,0:06:38.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's something that we share\Nbetween humans and chimpanzees.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:39.92,0:06:43.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, how do you become an alpha male?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.16,0:06:46.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,First of all, you need to be\Nimpressive and intimidating
Dialogue: 0,0:06:46.88,0:06:48.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and demonstrate your vigor on occasion
Dialogue: 0,0:06:48.84,0:06:50.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and show that you are very strong,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.48,0:06:52.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there's all sorts\Nof ways of doing that.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:53.00,0:06:56.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But other things that you need to do\Nis you need to be generous.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:56.08,0:06:58.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So, for example,\Nmales who go on a campaign
Dialogue: 0,0:06:58.68,0:06:59.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to dethrone the leader,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:59.96,0:07:02.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which may take two or three months
Dialogue: 0,0:07:02.48,0:07:05.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where they're testing\Nall the coalitions in the group,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:05.16,0:07:07.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they also become extremely generous.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:07.12,0:07:09.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They share food very easily with everyone.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:09.80,0:07:12.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or they start to tickle\Nthe babies of the females.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:12.84,0:07:16.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They're normally, male chimpanzees,\Nnot particularly interested in infants,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:16.40,0:07:18.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but when they are campaigning like that,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.60,0:07:21.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they get very interested in infants\Nand they tickle them,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:21.32,0:07:23.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they try to curry favor\Nwith the females.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:23.64,0:07:24.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:24.68,0:07:25.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So in humans, of course,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:25.96,0:07:28.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am always intrigued\Nby these men who are candidates
Dialogue: 0,0:07:29.00,0:07:30.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and hold babies up like this.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:30.44,0:07:33.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is not particularly\Nsomething that babies like --
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.04,0:07:34.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:07:34.08,0:07:36.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but since it is a signal\Nto the rest of the world,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.68,0:07:38.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they need to hold them in the air.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:38.72,0:07:41.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I was really intrigued by,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:41.12,0:07:43.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when we had a female candidate\Nin the last election,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:43.96,0:07:46.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the way she held babies\Nwas more like this,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:46.32,0:07:48.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is what babies really like.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:48.44,0:07:50.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But she of course\Ndidn't need to send the message
Dialogue: 0,0:07:50.80,0:07:53.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that she could hold a baby\Nwithout dropping it,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.04,0:07:55.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which was what the man was doing.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:55.04,0:07:56.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this is a very common tactic,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:56.92,0:07:58.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and male chimpanzees,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:58.92,0:08:02.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they spend a lot of time\Ncurrying favor with all sorts of parties
Dialogue: 0,0:08:02.64,0:08:04.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when they are campaigning.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:05.32,0:08:09.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, what are the privileges and the costs
Dialogue: 0,0:08:09.28,0:08:10.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of being an alpha male?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:11.96,0:08:14.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The biggest privilege is females.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:14.36,0:08:15.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Food is really irrelevant.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:15.92,0:08:18.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Male chimpanzees\Ncan go a week without food
Dialogue: 0,0:08:18.72,0:08:21.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,if there's a female in estrus\Nand they're sexually interested in her.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:22.00,0:08:24.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Food is secondary to sex.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:24.28,0:08:26.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so the male chimpanzees --
Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.08,0:08:30.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we evolutionary biologists, of course,\Nwe have an explanation for this,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:30.12,0:08:32.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that sex leads to reproduction,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:32.84,0:08:35.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and reproductive success\Nis the measure of evolution.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:35.40,0:08:37.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's how everything evolves.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.16,0:08:39.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so if males can enhance\Ntheir reproductive success
Dialogue: 0,0:08:39.96,0:08:41.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by being high ranking,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:41.40,0:08:45.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you get automatically the ambition\Nto be high ranking in the males.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.36,0:08:47.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So that's the privilege.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.04,0:08:51.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The costs, one cost is of course
Dialogue: 0,0:08:51.88,0:08:53.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you need to keep your partners happy.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:53.96,0:08:57.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So if you come to power\Nwith the support of an old male,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:57.84,0:09:00.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you need to let that old male\Nmate with females.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:00.88,0:09:03.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you don't do that,\Nthat old male is going to get mad at you,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.96,0:09:05.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you're going to lose him as a partner.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:06.00,0:09:08.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there's a transaction going on.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:08.12,0:09:12.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If you become alpha male this way,\Nyou need to keep your partners happy.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:12.08,0:09:13.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so that's one of the costs.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:13.60,0:09:17.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The second cost is that\Neveryone wants your position.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:17.04,0:09:19.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Alpha male position\Nis a very important position,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:19.92,0:09:22.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and everyone wants to take it from you,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:22.12,0:09:24.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so you constantly\Nhave to watch your back.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:24.32,0:09:25.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You have to be extremely vigilant.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:26.00,0:09:28.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,For example, you have to\Ndisrupt the coalitions of others
Dialogue: 0,0:09:28.72,0:09:30.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that's what male\Nchimpanzees do quite a bit.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:31.00,0:09:33.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Divide and rule strategies, they have.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.12,0:09:37.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so that's a very stressful situation,\Nand we actually have data on this.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:37.48,0:09:39.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The data comes from the field,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.40,0:09:42.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from baboons not chimpanzees in this case,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:42.04,0:09:44.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where they did fecal samples\Non the baboons
Dialogue: 0,0:09:44.56,0:09:47.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they analyzed them\Nfor glucocorticoids.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:47.28,0:09:49.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what you see here is a graph
Dialogue: 0,0:09:49.60,0:09:53.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where you see that the lower ranking\Nthe male baboon is,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:53.56,0:09:55.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the higher is his cortisol level
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.72,0:09:56.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the feces,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:57.00,0:09:59.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the alpha male, as you see,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:59.36,0:10:02.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has just as high a level\Nas the lowest-ranking males,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:02.52,0:10:07.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so you may think that being alpha male\Nis nice and dandy and is wonderful,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:07.04,0:10:09.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it's actually\Na very stressful position,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:09.64,0:10:11.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we can demonstrate\Nthat physiologically.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.24,0:10:15.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, what are the obligations?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:15.84,0:10:18.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And here, for me,\Nit gets really interesting,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:18.36,0:10:22.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it deviates very much\Nfrom your typical image of the alpha male.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.88,0:10:26.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The alpha male\Nhas two sorts of obligations.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.76,0:10:28.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One is to keep the peace in the group.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:28.76,0:10:30.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We call that the control role,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:30.24,0:10:31.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to control fights in the group,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:32.00,0:10:34.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the second is to be the most empathic,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.40,0:10:37.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the consoler in chief, basically,\Nof the nation, so to speak.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:37.80,0:10:39.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So first of all, keeping the peace.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:39.76,0:10:42.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a male who stops a fight\Nbetween two females.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.72,0:10:44.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Two females on the left and the right
Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.56,0:10:47.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have been screaming and yelling\Nat each other over food,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:47.20,0:10:49.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because food is very\Nimportant for the females,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:49.72,0:10:53.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so he stops the fight between them\Nand stands between them like this.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.44,0:10:56.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And it's very interesting to me\Nthat alpha males, when they do this,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:56.66,0:10:57.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they become impartial.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.48,0:11:01.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They don't support their mom\Nor their best buddy.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.08,0:11:03.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,No, no, they stop fights,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.72,0:11:05.86,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they come up\Nfor the underdog in general.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:05.88,0:11:09.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this makes them\Nextremely popular in the group,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:09.08,0:11:11.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they provide security
Dialogue: 0,0:11:11.08,0:11:13.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for the lowest-ranking\Nmembers of the group.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:13.60,0:11:15.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so they become impartial,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:15.44,0:11:18.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which is an unusual condition\Nfor a chimpanzee to be in,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:18.12,0:11:21.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they're usually\Nvery fond of their friends and so on,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:21.12,0:11:23.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and these alpha males\Nwho are good at this,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:23.20,0:11:26.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they can be very effective\Nat keeping the peace in the group.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:26.12,0:11:29.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the second thing they do\Nis they show empathy for others.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:29.40,0:11:32.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Now, I do an enormous amount\Nof research on empathy,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:32.16,0:11:33.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I don't have time to go into it,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:33.92,0:11:37.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but empathy is nowadays a topic\Nthat we study in rodents and dogs
Dialogue: 0,0:11:38.00,0:11:40.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and elephants and primates,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:40.12,0:11:41.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all sorts of animals.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:42.16,0:11:44.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And what you see here is two bonobos.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:44.84,0:11:47.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The one in front
Dialogue: 0,0:11:47.04,0:11:48.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,has been beaten up in a fight.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:48.52,0:11:51.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The one in the back puts\Nher arms around her and consoles her.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.84,0:11:55.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is also actually how we measure\Nempathy in young children,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:55.52,0:11:59.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by looking at how they respond\Nto distressed individuals.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.04,0:12:01.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And high-ranking males,\Nthey do a lot of this.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:01.36,0:12:05.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,High-ranking males provide an enormous\Namount of comfort in the group,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.80,0:12:08.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they go to places\Nwhere there are earthquakes
Dialogue: 0,0:12:08.24,0:12:10.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or hurricanes
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.32,0:12:11.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and they provide comfort.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:11.96,0:12:14.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The pope does this.\NThe presidents do this.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:14.12,0:12:16.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All the leaders in the world\Nhave to do this job.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:16.48,0:12:18.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The queen does it and so on.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:18.32,0:12:19.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They all have to do this job,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:19.76,0:12:23.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so providing consolation,\Nand that's a very important task.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:23.16,0:12:25.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And males who are good at these two,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:25.20,0:12:27.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,keeping the peace and providing comfort,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:27.64,0:12:29.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they become extremely popular leaders,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:29.68,0:12:32.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and there's actually\Nsome self-interest involved in it.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:32.52,0:12:34.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They don't do it just for the group,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:34.36,0:12:36.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because it also stabilizes their position.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:37.40,0:12:40.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The more popular\Na male becomes as alpha male
Dialogue: 0,0:12:40.24,0:12:44.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the more the rest of them\Nrespects them and looks up to them,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:44.96,0:12:46.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the better their position is defended
Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.80,0:12:49.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in case it's going to be\Nchallenged by somebody else,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:49.32,0:12:52.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because then, of course, the whole group\Nis going to support that male
Dialogue: 0,0:12:52.64,0:12:55.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because they want to keep\Na leader who is good for them.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:55.32,0:12:58.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the group is usually very supportive\Nof males who are good leaders,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:58.70,0:13:00.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and it's not supportive at all of bullies.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:01.00,0:13:02.82,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And when bullies lose their position,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:02.84,0:13:05.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they may end up\Nin a very bad situation there.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:05.84,0:13:08.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is data actually\Non the consolation behavior.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:08.40,0:13:11.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is data on consolation\Nin chimpanzees,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:11.36,0:13:14.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you see for the medium-\Nand low-ranking individuals,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:14.52,0:13:16.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the females do more of it than the males.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:16.60,0:13:18.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is basically the whole community.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:18.68,0:13:21.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is true for all\Nthe mammal studies on empathy
Dialogue: 0,0:13:21.60,0:13:23.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that females\Nhave more of it than males.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.96,0:13:25.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But look at the alpha male.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:25.60,0:13:28.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The alpha male does\Nfar more than anybody else.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:28.08,0:13:33.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so that's the data on alpha males\Nbeing the consoler in chief, basically.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:34.44,0:13:37.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The last thing I want to say\Nis something about alpha females.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:38.08,0:13:41.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is a picture of Mama,\Nthe alpha female in the Arnhem zoo
Dialogue: 0,0:13:41.56,0:13:42.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where I used to work,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.80,0:13:44.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who is now all over the internet,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:44.44,0:13:46.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I think a hundred million\Nclicks at the moment,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:46.68,0:13:49.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for a video of her dying at the age of 59,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:49.20,0:13:50.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which happened last year.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:50.80,0:13:53.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And Mama was an absolute\Ncentrum of the group.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:53.68,0:13:58.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So she was not physically capable\Nof dominating the males.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:58.12,0:14:02.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,She ranked below the males,\Nbut she was the center of the community,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:02.04,0:14:04.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and if there was big trouble\Nin the community,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:04.24,0:14:06.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,everyone would end up in the arms of Mama.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:06.56,0:14:08.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so she was a very important figure.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:08.80,0:14:11.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And so I don't want to minimize\Nthe position of alpha females
Dialogue: 0,0:14:12.00,0:14:13.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in the chimpanzee group.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:13.40,0:14:16.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then we have a species\Nthat is equally close to us
Dialogue: 0,0:14:16.80,0:14:18.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as the chimpanzee, the bonobo.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:18.28,0:14:22.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We often forget about the bonobo,\Nbut the bonobos have a matriarchal society
Dialogue: 0,0:14:23.00,0:14:27.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the alpha individual\Nis a female, generally.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:27.56,0:14:30.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Generally, it's a female\Nwho is at the top of the community,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:30.44,0:14:32.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we know much less\Nabout how this is done
Dialogue: 0,0:14:32.56,0:14:35.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and how they get to that position,\Nand what they do with it,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:35.44,0:14:38.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,because we know much less\Nabout bonobos in general.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:38.32,0:14:39.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But I do want to emphasize
Dialogue: 0,0:14:39.68,0:14:43.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the alpha in a group\Ndoesn't need to be a male,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:43.16,0:14:46.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and that actually in one\Nof our close relatives, it is a female.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:47.16,0:14:49.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So the message I want to leave you with
Dialogue: 0,0:14:49.64,0:14:53.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is that if you are looking\Nat men in our society
Dialogue: 0,0:14:55.68,0:14:57.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,who are the boss of, let's say,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:57.20,0:15:00.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a family or a business\Nor Washington or whatever,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:00.92,0:15:03.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you call them alpha male,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:03.32,0:15:05.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you should not insult chimpanzees
Dialogue: 0,0:15:05.68,0:15:07.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,by using the wrong label.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:07.44,0:15:08.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:15:08.68,0:15:11.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You should not call a bully an alpha male.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:11.96,0:15:15.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Someone who is big and strong\Nand intimidates and insults everyone
Dialogue: 0,0:15:15.60,0:15:17.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is not necessarily an alpha male.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:17.24,0:15:19.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,An alpha male has all sorts of qualities,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:19.32,0:15:22.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and I have seen bully\Nalpha males in chimpanzees,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:22.32,0:15:23.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they do occur,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:23.60,0:15:26.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but most of the ones that we have
Dialogue: 0,0:15:26.36,0:15:28.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,have leadership capacities
Dialogue: 0,0:15:28.32,0:15:30.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and are integrated in their community,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:30.36,0:15:32.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and, like Amos at the end,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:32.16,0:15:33.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they are loved and respected,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:33.96,0:15:36.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and so it's a very different situation\Nthan you may think.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:36.72,0:15:37.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And I thank you.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:38.00,0:15:41.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)