As I was reading about the differences between dogs and wolves, I realized eerie parallels between the domestication of the wolf and the modern human. Are we being domesticated? If we are, is it a bad thing?

The Differences Between Dogs and Wolves

The Handbook of Applied Dog Behavior and Training briefly discusses the physiological and behavioral differences between dogs and wolves to better understand the selective pressures that shaped the modern dog. Some of these differences include:

• Adrenocortical Response: Dogs are much less wary of outsiders, even other species, compared to wolves. A decreased adrenocortical response causes dogs to become less reactive to new situations, allowing social relationship with humans to form.
• Loss of Instincts: Dogs do not react to prey in the same uniform manner as the wolf and will often play with other animals, rather than hunt them. Wolves are better at solving insight-driven problems, while dogs are better at rote learning and inhibition. The muting of natural instincts and self-inhibition enables dogs to be instructed in a wide range of tasks.
• Paedomorphism: Dogs are physically and behaviorally much more similar to wolf juveniles or adolescents than they are to the mature adult wolf. It is believed that the younger, cuter dogs were subconsciously preferred (by triggering the nurturing instinct) than more “mature” looking dogs.

The Parallels to Man

As I read about the changes from wolf to dog, I became alert to the parallels to modern man:

• Adrenocortical Response: It has been found that in primates, the leader has higher adrenocortical response. He is less stressed under normal conditions, but becomes more stressed under threatening conditions. Chronic stress causes a reduced adrenocortical response, making you more susceptible a subordinate position in society.
• Loss of Instincts: Modern man is highly isolated from his environment. In Born to Run, Christopher McDougall talks about how the modern running shoe has actually caused more injuries than prevented, because it desensitizes you to your movement and interactions with the ground. There are plenty of examples of how our modern society has produces many comforts, which have served to desensitize our natural responses.
• Paedomorphism: As man transitioned from the use of force to survive to the use of his mind, the body has become less robust. His body has become weaker and his emotional state more submissive. Just a sign on the street is enough to cause him to enter a submissive state.

Possible Meanings

Some people believe that the domestication of man is related to religion. This is very reminiscent of Marx saying that “religion is the opiate of the masses.” Man has become more docile, submissive, and accepting of a higher authority to govern his actions.

My thought is that it is not necessarily related to religion, but rather, the transition of man from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to an agricultural lifestyle. As men began to adapt a sedentary lifestyle, the tribe became less of a necessity, which in turn, enabled the development of much larger, symbolic organizations (which could include religion). As organizations became larger, there was stronger pressure for social conformity and control to keep the unit organized and cohesive.

The dog is what happens when you make a wolf less of a wolf and more into a worker. The loss of instincts, increased complacency, and increased retention of juvenile features makes us less independent thinkers and better workers (there’s Marx echoing again), which helps perpetuate our society, but prevents us from expressing our true selves.

Most of this post is just my speculations, but it makes me think. What if I’m being domesticated? Maybe I can increase my energy, passion, motivation, and purpose through reversing these effects? I’m pretty excited about finding a biological way to do this without changing my genetics.