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Robert Morris Sapolsky

ロバート・エム・サポルスキー

Robert Morris Sapolsky

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1957-04-06 （Brooklyn, New York, U.S.）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Religion
Judaism (raised Orthodox; later atheist)
Residence History
Brooklyn, New York, U.S. → Stanford, California (Stanford University) → Kenya (field research)

Career

Occupations
Academic, Neuroscientist, Primatologist, Professor, Author, Science communicator
Active Years
1978-
Affiliations
Stanford University, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, National Museums of Kenya (research associate)
Influenced By
Bruce McEwen, Melvin Konner

Education

Harvard University
Biological Anthropology
Degree: B.A.
Period: 1974–1978
Year of Graduation: 1978
Country: United States
Graduated summa cum laude
Rockefeller University
Neuroendocrinology
Degree: Ph.D.
Period: 1980–1984
Year of Graduation: 1984
Country: United States
Thesis: The Neuroendocrinology of Stress and Aging

Awards

MacArthur Fellowship
1987
Organization: MacArthur Foundation
Result: 受賞
Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship
Organization: Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
Result: 受賞
Klingenstein Fellowship in Neuroscience
Organization: Klingenstein Foundation
Result: 受賞
National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator Award
Organization: National Science Foundation (NSF)
Result: 受賞
John P. McGovern Award for Behavioral Science
2007
Organization: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Result: 受賞
Carl Sagan Prize for Science Popularization
2008
Organization: Wonderfest
Result: 受賞
Emperor Has No Clothes Award
2002
Organization: Freedom From Religion Foundation
Result: 受賞
Lewis Thomas Prize
2008
Organization: Rockefeller University
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Stress, the Aging Brain, and the Mechanisms of Neuron Death

1992 Academic / Neuroscience

An academic work examining how stress affects the brain and neuron death, discussing mechanisms of aging and neuroendocrinology.

StressNeuroendocrinologyNeuronal degeneration

Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers

1994 Popular science

A popular-science book that explains stress physiology to general readers, comparing animal and human stress responses and the health effects of chronic stress.

StressHealthBehavioral biology

The Trouble with Testosterone: And Other Essays on the Biology of the Human Predicament

1997 Essays / Popular science

A collection of essays on testosterone, evolution, and behavior, examining human behavior from a biological perspective.

HormonesBehaviorEvolution

Junk Food Monkeys

1997 Popular / Primatology

The UK edition title of The Trouble with Testosterone; contains observations and essays about primates with a light tone.

PrimatologyEssaysBehavioral observation

A Primate's Memoir

2002 Memoir / Field non-fiction

A memoir recounting fieldwork with baboons in Kenya and Sapolsky's youthful experiences, mixing science and personal adventure.

Field researchComing-of-agePrimatology

Monkeyluv: And Other Essays on Our Lives as Animals

2005 Essays

A collection of essays treating humans as animals, reflecting on daily life and culture from a biological perspective.

Human natureBiologyCulture

Behave: The Biology of Humans at Our Best and Worst

2017 Popular science / Comprehensive

A comprehensive analysis of human behavior from neuroscience, hormones, evolution, and culture, exploring causes of behavior broadly.

Behavioral biologyNeuroscienceEthics

Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will

2023 Popular science / Philosophy

Argues from a determinist perspective that human behavior is largely determined by neurobiology and environment, challenging common notions of free will.

Free willDeterminismNeuroscience

Bibliography

  • Stress, the Aging Brain, and the Mechanisms of Neuron Death (1992)
  • Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers (1994)
  • The Trouble with Testosterone (1997)
  • Junk Food Monkeys (1997)
  • A Primate's Memoir (2002)
  • Monkeyluv (2005)
  • Behave (2017)
  • Determined (2023)

Adaptations

  • Appearance in the documentary 'Stress: Portrait of a Killer' (2008)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Clear, humorous explanatory styleInterdisciplinary, evidence-based argumentation
Recurring Motifs
Stress and healthBiological bases of behaviorBiology of religion and beliefDiscussion of free will

Health

  • Depression
    長年（詳細不明）
    Has described personal experiences with depression which affected his life and work; reports relief at times from medication.

Legacy

Sapolsky is known for linking primatology and neuroscience and popularizing the study of stress and behavior. He has made significant contributions to science communication through lectures and media appearances.

Academic Societies

  • Society for Neuroscience (honoree/award recipient)
  • International Society for Psychoneuroendocrinology

In Popular Culture

  • TED Talk (2017) and widely viewed Stanford lectures on YouTube
  • Featured in the National Geographic documentary 'Stress: Portrait of a Killer'
  • Appearances on podcasts and talk shows (Joe Rogan, Radiolab, etc.)

Quotes

  • There is no free will, or at least there is much less free will than generally assumed when it really matters.
    Source: Book 'Determined' and public talks (2023)

Trivia

  • Began interest in primatology and taught himself Swahili as a youth.
  • Traveled to witness conflict in Uganda at age 21.
  • His 'Human Behavioral Biology' lectures at Stanford and online lectures are widely viewed.
  • Married to neuropsychologist Lisa Sapolsky and has two children.