Lives Well Lived BRIAN HARE & VANESSA WOODS: kindness will prevail over aggression
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Nov 20, 2025 Brian Hare, an evolutionary anthropologist at Duke University, and Vanessa Woods, a researcher on animal behavior, share insights from their book, 'Survival of the Friendliest.' They discuss how friendliness, rather than aggression, has driven human success and cooperation. The duo contrasts the social structures of bonobos and chimpanzees, emphasizing empathy's dark side and how dehumanization emerges from it. They also explore the fascinating links between dog behavior and human emotions, revealing how friendliness can be a powerful life strategy in both animal and human societies.
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Book Inspired University Leadership Win
- Kasia used Survival of the Friendliest in a rector's campaign and won a university election.
- The book shaped her platform and led to her becoming vice-rector for internationalization.
Friendliness Often Beats Dominance
- Friendliness can be less costly than dominance because aggression requires energy and risk.
- When ecology allows cooperation, friendliness is repeatedly favored by selection.
Humans: A Mosaic With Unique Stranger Bonding
- Humans show a mosaic of traits shared with both bonobos and chimpanzees depending on the behavior.
- Our unique capacity is forming cooperative relations with recognized strangers beyond mere familiarity.
