Dario Maestripieri is a Professor in Comparative Human Development at the University of Chicago, and is also affiliated with the Stevanovich Institute on the Formation of Knowledge. His books include “Games Primates Play,” “Macachiavellian Intelligence: How Rhesus Macaques and Humans Have Conquered the World” and “Animal Personalities: Behavior, Physiology and Evolution.”

His work currently focuses on the evolution of human behavior and 20th century European literature.

In this episode he and Greg discuss the idea of dominance, nepotism & hierarchies in academia and the wild, and the nature of power and advancement within organizations.

Episode Quotes:

The relationship between dominance and fighting

Fighting has costs. There is risk of injury, death and damage to valuable relationships. So dominance is a mechanism that has evolved in species that are highly competitive, very social, potentially aggressive, to reduce the costs of fighting.

Evolution of human love

So one theory about the evolution of love is that this feeling has evolved. And in my opinion, is unique to humans. In my opinion, other animals don't have any type of feeling that closely resembles human love. This emotion has evolved to motivate people to stay together. So people who like each other, who are mutually sexually attracted, who have many interests in common, who even from a rational point of view they see the benefits of forming a joint partnership.

What makes a good leader

A good leader has to be a good observer of behavior, but also a good psychologist. So you really need to understand what drives a person's behavior, their emotions, their motivation, their moral principles, their rational calculations. A lot has to do with our personality. I recommend to any leader of any organization to study personality and try to understand the personalities of the individuals on your team, because that's a predictor of the motives that people use to engage in particular behaviors.

Show Links:

Guest Profile:

Faculty Profile at the University of Chicago
Professional Profile on Psychology Today
Dario Maestripieri on Linkedin
Dario Maestripieri at Talks at Google

His Work:

Where Economics Meets Evolutionary Biology feat. Dario Maestripieri

unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc