7. When to report a bully?

Ethologists, scientists who specialize in the study of animal behavior, spent many hours watching Komodo lizards and other animals in their native habitats and found that certain types of behavior patterns are seen in many species. Behavior patterns can help speed up reaction time and help a frog catch a fly or avoid a predator, and which may help support survival of the individual or the group as a whole.

Our non-verbal brainstem and limbic areas of the brain may lead us into performing behavior patterns that our verbal mind may then try to rationalize in words. Are we truly going to every single store during the middle of the holiday rush in order to get the best deal or to enjoy the holiday spirit? 

- or because our non-verbal self is energized by the thrill of foraging for the best deal? 

Non-verbal behavior patterns that may be based in activity from the brainstem area are listed in the book The  Triune Brain in Evolution. It is an older text on neuroanatomy and animal behavior - the neuroanatomy is out of date although the author, Paul D. Maclean, is still known for having first named the limbic system of the brain which is largely involved in emotions and emotional bonds between caregiver and child or between mates. [22] The examples of animal behavior in the book are likely irreplaceable as animals have lost their natural territories and ability to hunt or graze freely. Behavior patterns would be seen in urbanized territory but they would be affected by competition with concrete and motorized vehicles, and people. 

7.7.1: Increased dopamine levels may affect nonverbal instincts or urges to perform an activity.

The brainstem area of the brain is rich in the neurotransmitter dopamine so conditions, substances, or stages of life that affect dopamine levels may also affect the likelihood of these behaviors occurring or affect how strongly the person feels an urge to perform the behavior. (7.22)  Do holiday lights go up on the day after Thanksgiving because they are pretty or because the neighbor already decorated their house?

There are many beneficial ways to improve the mood too, besides mood altering substances. Holidays and special events with loved ones can cause an increase in positive mood hormones and the stimulating dopamine. Even imaginary ones can help boost dopamine. Fans of stars whether real or animated may enjoy conventions where everyone enjoys and knows about the same topic.   When groupthink (7.39) turns violent however we are in the mob mentality territory of mass hysteria. (7.40) That is rare however, most large crowds are peaceful and a pleasant experience for participants. Festive events can have a very uplifting effect, large crowds generally have a very positive mood and lift spirits. (7.35)

• An article about religious feelings and dopamine levels: (7.36)
• The Dopaminergic Mind in Human Evolution and History, a book to purchase: (7.37), the Table of Contents is available online: (7.38)

7.7.2: Compare Hunter Gatherer cultural similarities with behavior patterns in animal species.

To return to the first point on this page, our human ancestors share common behavior patterns around the world and across history. Compare anthropologist Donald Brown's list of human actions (7.3])  with the list of behavior patterns seen in many animal species, Table 6-1. Special Forms of Basic Behavior,  (p100, 7.22).

• Going across history and around the world, anthropologist Donald Brown found a long list of cultural similarities in common between many groups of people.   (Human Universals)
  The full list of Human Universals is available online in the appendix of (The Voice of the Species) An odd one stood out to the cannabinoid dietitian research I've been working on. "Sucking wounds" sounds gross for a human universal but it would likely be activating the cannabinoid receptors and stimulating growth factor production and promote wound healing. It is necessary for infants (animal research) to receive maternal licking to stimulate growth factor and appetite. A few references: CB2 receptors activation helps with healthy wound healing and prevents fibrosis (CB2 receptors & fibrosis) 7.3.5: epithelial growth factor receptor is activated by CB1 receptor and TRPV channel activation  (EGFR) (CB2R) maternal licking of infants associated with CB1 activation, lack caused increased fear in male pups later in life (maternal licking)
  It includes: “the existence of and concern with aesthetics, magic, males and females seen as having different natures, baby talk, gods, induction of altered states, marriage, body adornment, murder, prohibition of some type of murder, kinship terms, numbers, cooking, private sex, names, dance, play, distinctions between right and wrong, nepotism, prohibitions on certain types of sex, empathy, reciprocity, rituals, concepts of fairness, myths about afterlife, music, color terms, prohibitions, gossip, binary sex terms, in-group favoritism, language, humor, lying, symbolism, the linguistic concept of “and,” tools, trade, and toilet training.” (pp 271-272, 7.3)  

Table 6-1. Special Forms of Basic Behavior, (p100, 7.22)

1. Selection and preparation of homesite
2. Establishment of territory
3. Use of home range
4. Showing place preferences
5. Trail making
6. Marking of territory
7. Patrolling territory
8. Ritualistic display in defense of territory, commonly involving the use of coloration and adornments
9. Formalized intraspecific fighting in defense of territory
10. Triumphal display in successful defense
11. Assumption of distinctive postures and coloration in signaling surrender
12. Use of defecation posts (or areas away from sleeping areas and trails)
13. Foraging
14. Hunting
15. Homing
16. Hoarding
17. Formation of social groups
18. Establishment of social hierarchy by ritualistic display and other means
19. Greeting
20. Grooming
21. Courtship, with displays using coloration and adornments
22. Mating
23. Breeding and, in isolated instances (in reptilian species), attending offspring
24. Flocking
25. Migration

(p100, 7.22)- Paul D. MacLean,  The Triune Brain in Evolution: Role in Paleocerebral Functions, (Plenum Press, 1990, New York) National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland.

• "Dance," "marriage," "body adornment"  (7.3)  and "courtship, with displays using coloration and adornments"  (7.22) can be the same thing. "Color terms" (7.3)  might be important for "marking of territory" and "ritualistic display in defense of territory, commonly involving the use of coloration and adornments." (7.22) "Nepotism," "kinship terms," and "in-group favoritism" (7.3) might all lead to "Formalized intraspecific fighting in defense of territory." (7.22) 
• The holiday decorations mentioned earlier or other yard display may be similar to "Marking of territory" or "Establishment of social hierarchy by ritualistic display and other means."  (7.22) A yard decoration that fits in well in one neighborhood might be considered out of place in another neighborhood and might even lead to the household being considered outsiders, not part of the neighborhood group.
• "Toilet training"  (7.3) is common among human groups around the world and "grooming" and "use of defecation posts" (rather than the living area or on the trail) (7.22) are common among animal species. Toilet training is also about keeping defecation out of living areas and would help promote group survival. Excess dopamine levels has been associated with excessive grooming behavior in psychiatric patients. Estrogen may modulate the effect and help protect females from more severe schizophrenia symptoms.“(for a review see Leung and Chue 2000, (7.23)). The findings summarized in this review suggest that estrogens may act as a protective modulator in compulsive behavior and schizophrenia by enhancing the vulnerability threshold for psychosis through the downward regulation of dopamine neurotransmission.” (p122, 7.24) 
• "Hoarding" (7.22) behavior has also been associated with the dopamine system. (7.25 , 7.26)  Although low serotonin levels may be involved in humans with symptoms of hoarding. Increased anxiety and difficulty making decisions about parting with things seems to be part of the problem for humans with obsessive hoarding, as well as denial that the tendency had become a problem. (7.27)  Remember it's okay to leave a few holiday lights for someone else to buy.

The limbic area of the brain is associated with several non-verbal behavior patterns having to do with bonding and caring for offspring.

Six types of general behaviors have also been observed in many species that may occur as part of the other behavior patterns.

• Table 10-1. General ("Interoperative") Forms of Basic Behavior: 1) Routinizing, 2) Isopraxic, 3) Tropistic, 4) Repetitious, 5) Reenactment, 6) Deceptive. (p 143, 7.22)

1. Routinizing, there is a tendency to like following routines. 
2. Isopraxic behavior is the tendency to behave the same way as other members in a group.
3. Tropistic (from the Greek word tropos which means "a turning," page 145) is used in biology to describe behaviors that seem to be elicited or "turned" on or off by an external signal such as the colorful pattern seen on another member of the species - the same bright color might elicit the response even if it seen on an inanimate object instead of another member of the species.
4. Repetitious, there is a tendency to repeat usual behavior patterns. 
5. Reenactment is used to describe the repetition of a more complex series of behaviors than the typical routine. The more complex route might have been life saving once and it then may have became part of the daily routine even though the danger was no longer present. 
6. Deceptive behavior has been observed by Komodo lizards when they hunt deer. The large lizards will hide along the trails used by deer and wait for the deer to happen along - no chasing necessary. (7.22)

• "Lying" (7.3) and "Deceptive" (7.22) behavior are similar things. 
• The Golden Rule is a moral statement represented in some way in many religions. Roughly, "Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself." It represents equity (7.28) and "concepts of fairness" and "distinctions between right and wrong." (7.3) Stephen L. Anderson makes the point in a philosophical discussion The Golden Rule, Not So Golden Anymore that the Golden Rule is represented in two forms around the world, one with the positive grammatical form of “Do good unto to others…” and one in the negative “Don’t do bad unto others…”. The author suggests that the positive phrasing is suggesting a more actively helpful attitude while the negative phrasing is a more neglectful benign attitude that might allow ignoring others in need. (7.28) 

Considering the discussion of our instincts both versions of the Golden Rule may be represented in our hunter-gatherer and evolutionary history. Stephen L. Anderson may be correct about the Golden Rule being less golden - it has a silver version and a golden version. The Girl Scouts of America share a song with the line “Make new friends but keep the old, one is silver (new friend) and the other is gold (old friend).” (7.29)

• The positively phrased “silver” version “Do good…” is making new friends and represents the neighborly “Good Samaritan” who helps all in need. It is supporting the instincts of “Distinctions between right and wrong,” “Empathy,” “Reciprocity,” and “Concepts of fairness,”  (7.3) and may represent evolutionary instincts towards friendliness seen in the behavior pattern, “Greeting.”  (7.22)
• The negatively phrased “golden” version “Don’t do bad…” is keeping faith with the old friends and is supporting the instincts of  "Nepotism," "Kinship terms," and "In-group favoritism" (7. 3) but which in times of scarcity might also support the instincts of “Hoarding” and "Formalized intraspecific fighting in defense of territory." (7. 22)

New friends and old friends are both important but our instincts may favor protecting family members first.

7.7.3: Friends and family may be identified as “‘insiders” by sharing rituals and customs. 

We learn to trust others or to not trust as easily when we are young and dependent on caregivers. “Rituals” (7.3) that we learn when we are young may be part of what helps us identify who is an “insider” and who is an “outsider” based on who participates in the ritual - such as the ritual of putting up holiday decorations in your yard. (7.30) 

      As we have more people with neurological differences working and living in our businesses and communities the more aware “neurotypical” people, people with average communications styles, need to be that those with differences may not be able to speak or hear, or otherwise communicate normally. They may be startled or made uncomfortable by festive lights or noises. Efforts to try to speak louder or more aggressively may just cause the person with differences to get silent and scared or to start acting out in some way that might lead to escalating a situation that likely need not have occurred in the first place.

• A video by Jason Mothorpe shares an insider perspective on what it is like to be on the autism spectrum: You don't know autism: (7.31)
• Autism Awareness Month: Facts and Tips for Working with Individuals on the Autism Spectrum: (7.32)
• 20 Tips for Working with Individuals Affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders: (7.33)
• An example of how an amusement park is meeting the needs of those with neurological differences, with "Quiet Rooms" and Three Other New Legoland Upgrades for Guests with Autism: (7.34) 

Read more on how early childhood and attachment styles can effect an adult’s tendency to trust others in the section Trust is learned early.