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1. Introduction to Human Behavioral Biology

Stanford · lecture · Watch on YouTube

University lectures & coursesNeuroscience & the brainPsychology & human behavior

What it is

The opening lecture of Robert Sapolsky's Stanford course on Human Behavioral Biology, explaining the course premise and how to avoid categorical thinking. It starts a roughly 25-lecture series on how biology, genes, hormones and environment shape behavior.

Why Hacker News recommends it

One of the most consistently recommended lecture series on HN, praised as fascinating, funny and eye-opening about human behavior across many scales.

  • 15 people recommended it
  • 15 different months
  • 8 strong recommendations
  • first 2012, last 2026

What HN commenters said

  1. “this 25 hour video course is also a must see for pretty much everyone”

    25-hour Stanford course on behavioral biology

    super_mario, 2012-05 · Strong recommendation · in “Iterated prisoner's dilemma contains evolutionary opponent dominating strategies”

  2. “For me one of the best teachers you will find online”

    Sapolsky's lecture series on biology of behavior

    ploomans, 2015-06 · Strong recommendation · in “Robert Sapolsky talks turbulence – teens, stress, and the information age”

  3. “Fascinating, funny and gives insights into many different topics like cultural differences and nationalism.”

    Fascinating, funny lectures on many topics

    guzmanovich, 2016-03 · Strong recommendation · in “Ask HN: What's the most useful online course you have watched?”

  4. “I would recommend the complete playlist to anyone here. It is simply fascinating.”

    Shows how susceptible we are to hormones; eye-opening

    Frozenlock, 2016-05 · Strong recommendation · in “The Real Problem with Facebook and the News”

  5. “Best course I've ever done.”

    Accessible multi-scale course from evolution to brains and genes

    yesenadam, 2017-11 · Strong recommendation · in “Ask HN: Best books you read in 2017?”

  6. “I would highly recommend Robert Sapolsky's course "Human Behavioral Biology" from stanford.”

    Stanford lectures that taught the commenter a lot

    jmcqk6, 2019-03 · Strong recommendation · in “Online activists are silencing us, scientists say”

  7. “A rare combination of both extremely important and extremely interesting.”

    Gripping, important lecture series

    nomilk, 2023-01 · Strong recommendation · in “Ask HN: What's the best lecture series you've ever seen?”

  8. “I also highly recommend Sapolsky's Human Behavior Biology course which he taught for Stanford but published on YouTube”

    Sapolsky's course on human behavior biology

    culi, 2023-04 · Strong recommendation · in “Harvard: The Effects of Noise on Health”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: sapolsky, neuroscience, genetics, evolution, stanford, hormones

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