The Real Difference between "Us" & "Them"

I meant Chimpanzees... ...who share 98.6% of our DNA.

Yeah! So what? We share 50% of our DNA with bananas too!

While the absolute difference in DNAs is minuscule, the real differences between us and other primates are significant in that all of our primate cousins are struggling to survive, and are on the brink of extinction.

You might not be completely wrong if you guessed that the significant difference has to do with 'Politics'. But that difference is not in the way you probably think it is.

Actually, Chimpanzees are significantly "better" than us at politics - because it's a daily struggle between life and death for them - and consequently they are way better than us in calculating probabilities - especially in social situations! They never vote with their hearts!

(Economists may please note here that their theory of 'rational behaviour' - would actually apply better on Chimps)

And Chimps are better than us in musculature, and way, way-better in short term memory...

Contrary to popular belief of 'monkey-see, monkey-do', human children are actually better at imitating - copying others' behaviours (social learning) - as compared to all our other primate cousins.

The Chimps - our nearest cousins of the Genus - Pan, are estimated to have separated from our Genus - Homo, about 7 million years ago.

Since that time, we evolved certain behaviours that are different from the Chimps and our other primate cousins. These seems to have made a significant difference, and have brought us to our present reality.

So, what is it?!

Joseph Henrich's book has a brilliant exposition on the entire spectrum of these evolutionary behaviours and traits, and if this has spiked your interest, I encourage you to read the entire book.

Let me open just one small window for you here: what Joseph calls the 'Alpha' vs 'Prestige' behaviour.

All primates and most animal groups have 'Alpha Males' and Alpha Females'. The biggest, baddest, meanest bullies - whom everyone else tries to stay clear of. Till someone else in the group replaces them.

There are multiple evolutionary advantages - researchers' think - that accrue from the 'Alpha' structure in a group. (That is the reason why this trait evolved independently across multiple animal groups).

Human tribes have the Alpha structure too.

You can visibly see the Alphas: they walk with a physical swagger; they claim more physical 'space' at the expense of others; they are unpredictably aggressive towards other tribe members and hostile towards all 'outsiders'; they don't tolerate any 'potential challenger' or 'questioner' to their Alpha status.

They tend to be very particular about 'submissive behaviours' (i.e.: body postures, and verbal cues) from others around them - and immediately react extremely aggressively to any perceived threat to their dominant status. Everyone around them must quickly 'bow & scrape', if not also 'sing their praises', as they nonchalantly pass-by.

Yes we have our Alphas. Sometimes we even elect them to our highest offices.

But humans have something else too in addition to that - which made a huge difference to us as compared to other primates.

Prestige.

I would like to use the Buddha's word instead: 'Maitti Bhava' (friendliness), and the 'Bodhisattva' trait: compassion.

In human societies, skilled and accomplished people are held in high esteem. They become role-models for other younger humans, especially sub-adults & young-adults.

In case these skilled and accomplished humans are of a generous and helping nature, they tend to attract a lot of followers and apprentices. If they have openness to share their learning and wealth, patience to demonstrate their skills repeatedly for others to observe and learn, and have ability to mentor-coach-collaborate, they become powerful 'role-models' for younger tribe members. They earn 'Prestige'.

If the environment is relatively stable - things around the tribe don't change too fast from generation to generation - then experience, and by association 'age' is also valued.

"What this person is good at and has practiced and experienced to their benefit over a significant period of their life - is worth emulating as it will also confer similar benefits to me in the course of my life".

(Now you know why 'techies' can't tolerate 'oldies' / their managers too well! ?? ??)

These friendly Bodhisattvas are also easily discernible: Their body language typically displays ease and confidence, but not aggression. They don't want to hog the limelight. They don't become insecure in the presence of other accomplished humans, in fact they are keenly interested to learn from and collaborate with other accomplished humans, and share their own learning. They tend to be soft-spoken, self deprecating if not humble and grounded, and are conscious about putting other people approaching them - at ease. They tend to be good listeners, generous in sharing their resources, time, and skills, and go out of the way to be helpful - especially to those who need it the most.

Yep, these are the genuine ones.

Of course there are fakes too.

Like for everything else, humans have evolved a behavioural hack to figure out 'who to follow as a role-model' too.

We simply look around and follow the herd - whoever happens to be the person that others around us are emulating the most - we start emulating too.

(This should explain to you the human phenomenon of 'celebrities' - who attract followers, because they are famous!)

The other hack is to 'share private or public wealth and resources' selectively. Using common resources to exclusively benefit 'your' tribe at the expense of 'others'. These also earn you 'prestige', followers, and of course ability to stay in that powerful role longer.

So why is this Maitti Bhava & Bodhisattva Trait important for humans, and sets them apart?

It is important because all that we hold to be good about our cultures, societies, social life, and our personal lives - indeed 'humanity' itself - has been built on the shoulders of the Bodhisattva & Maitti Bhava individuals - generation upon countless generation.

That is what makes us different.

Not the Alphas.

If anyone of us thinks that killing civilians in their homes using military weapons, using weapons grade snooping software on your own citizens, harassing minorities, creating a hostile and toxic environment for other human beings (justified by whatever convoluted logic) is necessary or inevitable - they must look at themselves in the mirror.

You will see your Alpha trait manifesting in your mirror.

Nothing wrong or right about it, just that there will be consequences to bear.

Alphas mostly die broken and uncared for. Often-times it's their own tribe that initiates, participates-in and celebrates their dethronement, breaking, pain and dismembering.

If there are a lot of us channeling our inner Alphas together, cheering-for and electing our favourite Alpha as head-of-state: it will very quickly bring us to the brink of extinction too.

This, as we can see clearly today both at home and in the world, is already a disaster.