Do You Have the Heroic Gene? - Paul Ekman

[VideoGameCoupons]

I love the topic! great vid!

[potpie921]

thank you for uploading

[chiron8839]

@KweerKrewProductions - How so, Kweer?

[broadcastmyass4u]

Don't be fooled into whether or not you "have the gene" or not, it is an illusion gene, it can change back and forth. The force that molds and changes "these genes" is the shift of your own thoughts/views of the morality of human life. This is formulated by environment. It's not like you are born specificaly to have these genes, they are forced on you from the people you grow up around. So if you change your mind about something in life you are changing the ratio of gene activity.

[TheAquatician]

@broadcastmyass4u I will not judge by your nick that you lack self worth but treat with a default respect to you and respond seriously. That being said, in regards of this 4 minute video, you response seems irrelevant, the least. Doctor Ekman, is someone who speaks specifically and never misses to mention a source very religiously as he also states here that he talks about the "impulse" moment. So I think you may have misunderstood what is told, if not could you "source" yourself scientifically?

[broadcastmyass4u]

@TheAquatician I didn't think anyone would take there time to read what i wrote so it was a bit loose. I can try to tell you scientifically but it would take up this response. i could talk about that maybe in a letter. I can correct myself on one thing though, i didn't mean to say that people aren't born with those genes, i don't know if that is possible for a fact yet, or at least i can't think of any examples. Can you? I'd like to know from a controled setting point of view of that happens

[TheAquatician]

@broadcastmyass4u In laymen terms we are all born with every gene, and the more your ancestors use let's say music gene the better chance the next generation gets to be a better musician. Think of it like blocks of cement. Different moisture levels and with age these get harder&harder. So if not used a less moist bucket is passed on to next generation. So I agree it's not possible, but I think the "effect" mentioned about is more like the way I am trying to explain now. I 2nd this area is short

[broadcastmyass4u]

@TheAquatician yeah i agree almost completely, every person just has different concentrations of these genes within them. I don't think, unfortunetly, that these amplified gene expressions in one person just keep amplifing as it goes down the line though. It does happen i see it all the time but you eventually will get to that person in the family that just doesn't care for music and turns towards something like sports. For some reason they just can't perceive the music well enough to play it.

[TheAquatician]

@broadcastmyass4u That's exactly my point, if you skip a generation the "default" moisture gets less in the next one, which then theoretically will require a harder practice first to catch up with the default then to move forward. As we have both mentioned, these are very detailed conversations for here, and nothing seems to fit. :) You're more than welcome to e-mail me though.

[wesmatron]

Oddly, when the proverbial hits the fan I tend to act heroically without hesitation, and have done on many occasions, yet on the whole, I'm a complete coward.

[TheCarlScharnberg]

If it's a gene, then I most certaintly have it, but it's still quite strange when looking at where I come from. But HEY, if a pair of twins can get two different ethnicities, I guess this is possible.

[katalina125]

The story of the heroic monkey reminds me of what many of us have once heard or seen, a dog may put its own life in danger and risk its own life to defend or help its owner. How many time haven't we heard the story of a heroic dog, there have been a few show on television depictic this kind of act, there have also been hollywood movies made about heroic dogs. How about the stories of motheres putting themselves in danger to rescue their babies.

[kullenberg]

Here in Sweden, citizens who are of non-nordic origin (immigrants or raised by immigrants) are widely known to be more assertive and likely to act with "heroic compassion" .

Why? The average swede is deathly afraid of conflict. And no, it's obviously not because the heoric gene is uncommon up here - it's simply in our culture, the way we are brought up.

The whole "either you have it or you don't" is absurd. Does Ekman suggest that people cannot learn to be more assertive?

[katalina125]

@kullenberg May be a combination of cultural upbringing and geneic predisposition.

[katalina125]

cutural upbringing and genetic predesposition.

[TheAquatician]

@kullenberg This may seem hard to grasp or accept at once but western civilizations in general, act more based on basic primitive impulses vs eastern civilizations. Given the 5000 years recent history this is even incomparable and too obvious. What you can learn and then decide to apply to an impulsive moment is a false argument to begin with. A theory (researching the reasons of racism) states this might be the reason why we observe more racism and hatred in western cultures vs eastern cultures

[NationOfJames]

@TheAquatician Well... You can change the way you act impulsively. Lets say you usually duck when someone throws a punch at you. Then you take karate lessons for years and become an expert. Now you block any punch that comes toward you. You can be conditioned to change your impulses and reactions.

[KnightsofTrueNorth]

@NationOfJames

A perfect example is the military, In the military it is common knowledge that under stress you revert to training.

Training is something that you have a choice to engage in, or not, and to alter or not. Compassion,

Another, job might be a Paramedic, whereas an untrained person might be terrified of doing the wrong thing, and incuring legal or moral culpability.

Relationship, or in the case of the human moral training can have a bearing, as well.

[tuttt99]

I don't feel like I have it, but I have acted "heroically" on several instances when the push came to shove.

So I guess I do.

[hurchel]

I do and I am a woman,

[webguy943]

yay?

[Durchbrechen]

Few comments below I explained how my girlfriend had it and she was rescuiing people in danger meanwhile I was worried about her safety only. The danger made me forget other people, I was only interested she was not getting in danger, even though I'm a very empathic person in normal condition. Likely this is really a genetic trait, and you can have it regardless of your gender. I've not it. In dangerous situations I go in defensive mode. It's involuntary.

[hurchel]

Noticed you were from austria, my moms side were Tyrol austrian

[Durchbrechen]

Indeed I'm from Südtirol :) Austrian dad, italian mom. Südtirol is the part of Tyrol that became italian after WWI.

Come to visit your ancestors' land sometimes:

/watch?v=YVFzw9QJegk&fmt=22

[Zeno1999]

We may activate or deactivate any gene anytime through inner shift of mind/soul connection resulting in change in biochemistry.

What's point of all this discussion.

[staceysweetcake]

And how you do that ? You must be joking .

[Zeno1999]

Such endeaver is based on one's subjective reality which require faith in forces beyond our normal awareness.

Yoga, meditation, Gi-gong, music, art are some of the ways to get into the higher levels of subjective reality.

Reading my opinions from an objective reality level, shows you, I'm a joker :)

[webguy943]

u must constantly pull stuff outa ur ass huh?

[Zeno1999]

Utube hero trophy is your's for these comments.

[Durchbrechen]

I have not that gene and my girlfriend had it. There was a terrible car accident in front of us. The car tipped several times and hit a street lamp, catching fire. While I was petrified my girlfriend, without hesitation, was running toward the car to rescue the occupier. Instintively I run behind her trying to STOP HER because I was afraid she was getting in danger. Fortunately the driver was safe, but I felt ashemed of me. Few seconds. No control.

[Zeno1999]

Tx 4 sharing.

That incident shows your GF has empathy and courage. You have courage but more selfishness (than her which reduces empathy/compassion).

[Durchbrechen]

The curious thing is that in normal conditions I was convinced of having more compassion/empathy than her. For instance I'm more worried about animal sufferings and more left wing on many things. In that case I guess it was not lack of compassion by me. It was FEAR to hinder me. I'm afraid I'm a coward :)

[Petrionvitunkomea]

Wat I am hearing!? Quote mining?

[Ontologistics]

Very shallow and silly theory.

[Saktoth]

Gene? How the hell is it a gene?

Even the notion that some people 'have' it and some 'dont' is preposterous: Its all about the circumstances which will drive you to commit an act of heroic compassion.

[merdufer]

Well there are certainly genetic predispositions involved. But I'm with you there. Ekman's speech itself didn't seem to actually suggest such an uninformed idea though.

[Saktoth]

He suggests, though, that some people simply posses this attribute and others dont.

Some people will push an old lady out from in front of a piano, but not return a wallet. Some will steal to feed a starving man. Others will run into a burning building, killing themselves and depriving their family of a parent- While others slave away every day raising a child not their own.

It is all about the circumstances and mindstate you are in which will drive you to do such an act.

[IthinkIamJesusorAlah]

What if you jump in the ice cold water to save the skater who fell through, but you can't swim?

Does that mean you have the heroically stupid motherfucker gene?

[razorflown2]

@IthinkIamJesusorAlah Exactly, you have struck on the core of the argument. That an animal would put itself in danger in order to preserve the well being of another animal.

[gasttheplast]

The monkey is not a hero, he's looking out for his food handler.

NO HANDLER NO FOOD !!!!!

And when you to not have a heroic genes that is called a coward.

p.s. Darwin was full of shit.  WAKE UP PEOPLE !

[Miredninja]

I have heroic genes and heroic jeans

[didate]

Heroic American monkey, how touching but the info is dumbed down, don't you agree?

Watch lecture by Dr. Marc Houser, Harvard University, on Evolution of Morality instead, it's available on youtube.

/watch?v=ixZZcFvpEVU&feature=r­elated

[merdufer]

saying there is a heroic gene is like saying there is a heroic protein. surely it would be a combination of many factors.

[Mastikator]

I have heroic enzymes and wise T-Cells, however my skeletal muscle tissue cells are the black sheep of the family.

[easymike]

How can you conflate genetic behavior with a protein merdufer?

The sequence of amino acids in a protein is defined by the sequence of a gene in the genetic code. It is has also been discovered that a gene is responsible for particular behavioral traits,

[merdufer]

gene influences behavioral traits through the way it codes for proteins. the process is influenced by many other things. suppose we find a gene expression highly correlated with individuals who have performed heroic acts. it doesn't mean that everyone with that gene will perform heroic acts in any given situation, neither does it mean people without that gene will never perform heroic acts in those situations. the idea of a heroic gene feels rather pointless.

[easymike]

We have found genetic correlations with morality several times. Proteins, amino acids etc. have their own relationship.

[merdufer]

can i have a reference on the "we have found genetic correlations with morality several times" claim?

what kinds of morality are you talking about here?

[easymike]

You Already have a reference posted earlier in this thread, Dr. Marc Houser. It is obvious that you are responding to the poorly titled video rather than reality

merdufer. Do your own research before you make statements that you may have to defend.

[merdufer]

I didn't give any reference to such a claim. It was only your claim.

I am just sincerely curious if you knew of any studies about "genes that determine people's morality". But it looks like you're just trying to avoid the question.

[merdufer]

broad, ill-defined characteristics like "heroism" aren't the type of "particular traits" that can give us insights into how people think and act, neither does it have any practical relevance.

i think he's just telling a simple story about how a lot of human behaviors are governed by instincts. i don't really know where the talk of "heroic gene" comes from. in my opinion that's all rather silly.

[thisgonabeegreat]

I belive that I have heroic GENES

[ChaChinnngK]

Or ADD ?

[anamericanstory]

Is this the web bots 15%???

[yuriythebest]

I wonder if there is an antiheroic gene

[katalina125]

@yuriythebest That's an interesting question, if there is "heroic" gene can there be the opposite??? an antiheroic gene

[TheCarlScharnberg]

@katalina125 also known as psychopathy.

[Luinreg]

If they wanted to test the gene now would be the perfect time since we are invading two countries. It would be incredibly risky but might answer the question about the instinct.

[RenegadeTimes]

When the action is upon you action will be swift...when you do the right thing.

MHO ..thanks..

[Finiras]

most people that wouldn't risk their life for a stranger would still do it for at least one person in their life... so it applies to almost anyone?

[ncfwhitetigress]

I guess there are different levels of heroic compassion then.

[FlyingC4r]

opening remarks