Gain favor like a dog
I saw a documentary on television last night about dogs, and how domestication has changed the genetic makeup of the dog. They are not simply domesticated wolves; they're in an entirely different class. Siting the studies of a Russian scientist and her work with domesticating foxes (which I read about in National Geographic some months ago), what researchers know is that as the generations are acclimated to life with humans, their shapes change, their coats change, their tails shorten, their ears begin to flop—and, astonishingly, they begin to take on the characteristics of babies. And also what researchers know is that humans have a genetic predisposition to a maternal instinct, or nurturing instinct, that is triggered just by the sight of a baby's face. So we respond in largely the same way to a dog with a cute face. This means that, in some mysterious, glorious way, in its journey to living with humanity, the dog figured out how to get us to respond in ways that would make us want to care for it. In turn, dogs bring us unending joy.
I tell my audiences this all the time—don't be angry that you're judged on appearance first. It's a biological, evolutionary, genetic thing humans have. We can't help it. Our ancient ancestors looked out across the tundra and had to instantly put together visual information to tell them if that Neanderthal coming toward them was friend or foe. They had to look at that wolf that approached the cave and detect the visual clues that indicated this wolf wouldn't be as aggressive as the other wolves. It's part of who we are. The great thing is that, as humans, we also have the power of reason, and we can rise above an initial impression of appearance. But how much better when we enter into a situation where we want to be perceived favorably and our appearance is appealing and appropriate and in context—because that hurdle is thus immediately put aside and now the person whose favor you're seeking can enter in to find out what it is you have to offer. It's evolutionary, Dear Watson.
I tell my audiences this all the time—don't be angry that you're judged on appearance first. It's a biological, evolutionary, genetic thing humans have. We can't help it. Our ancient ancestors looked out across the tundra and had to instantly put together visual information to tell them if that Neanderthal coming toward them was friend or foe. They had to look at that wolf that approached the cave and detect the visual clues that indicated this wolf wouldn't be as aggressive as the other wolves. It's part of who we are. The great thing is that, as humans, we also have the power of reason, and we can rise above an initial impression of appearance. But how much better when we enter into a situation where we want to be perceived favorably and our appearance is appealing and appropriate and in context—because that hurdle is thus immediately put aside and now the person whose favor you're seeking can enter in to find out what it is you have to offer. It's evolutionary, Dear Watson.
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