Citation
A Pacific Culture among Wild Baboons: Its Emergence and Transmission
TL;DR
Despotic alpha males: 30% time in aggressive displays
This 30-year longitudinal study provides the strongest evidence that leadership style creates measurable physiological consequences for both leaders and subordinates. When despotic alpha males died from tuberculosis (from infected meat they monopolized), the troop underwent cultural transformation to prosocial leadership.
Critically, Sapolsky documented that the cultural shift persisted for 20+ years and transmitted to new generations - proving that organizational culture can permanently change when despotic leadership is removed. The 50% reduction in group cortisol and 40% improvement in infant survival quantify the biological cost of despotic vs. prosocial leadership.
Key Findings from Sapolsky & Share (2004)
- Despotic alpha males: 30% time in aggressive displays
- Despotic tenure average: 2.5 years before overthrow
- After despotic males died: group cortisol dropped 50%
- Infant survival increased 40% under prosocial culture
- Cultural shift persisted 20+ years
- New males joining troop adopted pacific culture within 6 months