As a biologist that actually met Treadwell, I found this fascinating. Here are just a few of my personal "insights" as a person who studied brown bears and who met, and tried to encourage Treadwell to behave in ways more conducive to long life. Treadwell didn't work with the Park Rangers and biologists at Katmai. Many of us tried to gently suggest to him the idea that naturalists actually DO contribute to the body of knowledge we have about the natural world and encouraged him to direct his obsession toward activities more in line with how a naturalist would observe the natural world. But Tim didn't have the discipline for doing the kind of observation that would have been useful. He filmed bears doing unnatural things - interacting with a human - instead of staying away and filming them doing what they would naturally be doing without human interference. Some of his video inadvertently caught bears in the distance, but most of what he filmed does not shed any light on the natural behavior of the bears. Treadwell had actually left the park and got all the way to the airport, but had some kind of altercation with an airline employee and decided to go back to the park. One of the rangers saw him at a local store appearing to "gear up" and pretty much knew he was going back to the wilderness. Treadwell was reminded that most bears are already hibernating and the only ones that are still out and about that time of the year are the ones that instinctively know they have not put on enough weight to make it through hibernation. Those bears are desperately fighting against time. They must get the weight on and then find a safe place to hibernate and it was very late into the season, so late that most bears were already in hibernation. They are far more dangerous at this point. The audio has not been released to the public, there are many fakes out there. In the fake audios you hear the bear growling and everyone thinks oh how scary. A growling bear is actually trying to scare you away, not trying to actually physically attack you. In the real recording the bear doesn't growl at all. The copy that was made by staff in order to be studied for clues as to what happened was destroyed. Keep in mind that bears don't have bandages and antibiotics they can apply to themselves. I know this sounds snarky, but it's important to know they will not take unnecessary risks, even a risk that doesn't appear to present a danger of actual death. A wound that gets infected can be devastating for non human animals. Here is an explanation of the situations where a bear will become aggressive. No growling of any kind by the bear is heard on the audio of the actual event where Tim lost his life. We have no such audio of the event that ended Amy's life and can't say whether it was a feeding event or some other reason for the aggression on her. The audio ends partway through the event involving Tim. 1. A female bear will become physically aggressive to protect her cubs. In this case the female will growl, stand up trying to look as big as possible, do everything she can do physically intimidate the encroacher to leave on it's own. This involves the bear making lots of growling noises. 2. A bear that has found a good location for feeding will protect the area they are currently feeding. This is another case where they will make lots of noise, they will stand up in an effort to present as large a presence as possible. Again, loud growling will be a large part of the effort to protect a prime feeding location. 3. Males will aggressively protect access to females during breeding season. This is yet another instance where loud growling takes place. Again, these animals in this and the first two situations are trying to get the encroaching animal to leave without having to resort to actual physical contact, which could seriously wound or kill one or both animals. 4. The last form of "aggression" is feeding. This is the one type of aggression that does not involve growling and noise. The real tape was horrifyingly chilling BECAUSE of the lack of growling by the bear.
Thank you for a very informative comment! One thing that I find fascinating and enchanting about biologists is the lengths to which they'll go to observe animals with minimal interference. By now, drones and increasingly small cameras make that easier, but in a lot of documentaries you see scientists crouching in hide-out for hours and days. My impression of Timothy Treadwell from any clip I've ever seen is that he wanted that status as the gentle powerful fearless Friend and Protector of the bears more than he wanted to really observe and learn. His videos document how bears react to a human intruder, and sadly, so does his death. I imagine it must have been hard for the rangers to see somebody messing about with both the bears and the park rules for years, always with the unspoken question of whether _this_ would be the year when his luck would run out.
@@Julia-lk8jn Yes, it was hard not to think it was going to end badly for Treadwell. He seemed very paranoid and somehow convinced himself that we were his enemy. But the rangers are specifically there to make sure people enjoy their time in the wild, they wanted him to be able to get great video of bears and other wildlife, to enjoy himself, and to be safe so he could continue to do that year after year. National Parks are specifically designated as land where no area is off limits (aside from living quarters and areas designated for the staff). So, Timothy wasn't actually breaking any laws, but he often broke the safety rules, particularly the rules that involve safe distances between yourself and wildlife. And he started more and more breaking rules regarding camping as he convinced himself more and more that rangers were his enemy and somehow they were stalking him, leaving messages for him, and trying to "stop him from protecting the bears." His paranoia really grew more and more over the years. I do not believe those "messages" were left by anyone, I think Tim set those up himself. That area is accessible by plane and rangers generally spend their time in the area around the falls, interacting with visitors. I don't believe anyone flew out there to leave him these bizarre messages. I think Dr van der Vaart's insight is spot on and actually helped me feel less guilty about not being able to help Tim. As much as he could be very frustrating, all of us were truly heartbroken, but ultimately I think most of us weren't surprised that something terrible happened. Your description of biologists crouching in the wild reminds me of the earliest days - I was primarily a behavioral biologist, but also involved in survey and monitoring work. Today biologists use advanced tools for tracking and monitoring bears - GPS collars, video collars, we also still sedate bears to investigate their general condition. So, there isn't as much crouching in the wild as in the old days, but us old timers really enjoy that part of it. Sorry to write so much. Can you tell that part of the job I truly loved the most involved conducting programs for the general public, which I enjoyed being able to do from time to time. 🙂
It’s so strange to see a grown ass man on his knees in the grass, baby talking to a big stinking grizzly bear that’s clearly stalking him. Surreal almost.
@@spiralrose No they weren’t. He needlessly killed lots of tigers and all sorts of animals. Not even the humans around him were safe in the end.. You should check the series out.
I recently relapsed after my service dog died a few months ago, and now I want to reach a sober place again and really needed to hear the part about addiction. thank you. I did it before for almost ten years, (it was a few months before my ten year sobriety) I can do it again.
It is probably a very bad moment in your life, so no wonder you relapsed. I wish you a lot of strength to endure this tough time. Your doggie would want you happy. ❤ don’t give up
As someone who’s struggled his whole life with various addictions I have never heard anyone break things down like that. I found it very helpful. Gave me some more insight into myself.
I'm so sorry to hear about your service dog. I know from family who utilize them that they are not just companions they are such a huge part of being independent and navigating the world, often literally. Also, relapsing in no way means you can't keep going at sobriety. Relapaes happen. Life is fckin hard and sh1t happens, it's challenging. Sober living is a daily practice, you've got this.
@@Torgo-and-the-Lucifer-Cat Yes. Treadwell spent 13 SUMMERS there, not 13 years. It was a total of about 3 1/2 years that he was out there and almost always in Summer, when grasses, berries and Salmon were present. A fed bear isn't safe, but they're safer than a hungry aggressive one about to go into hibernation.
It’s because he only spent the summer in an area with plentiful food. That final year he stayed into the fall when bears start to become more aggressive in a year with food scarcities that would have aggravated the bears. Finally, staying later in the season brought in bears that treadwell hadn’t been around before in the previous summers.
@@tredjesongen Mental health care is more than psych meds, and is valuable and important. I respect that you may have had a negative experience, but that is not reflective of the field as a whole, and your language matters.
Thanks. To add: he only spent a few weeks out of each year in the wild, not constantly. Even the natives in the area hated him, normalizing animals to human presence is deadly.
This seems obvious in retrospect, but as a kid i imagined him living in a cabin off grid with bears all year. He didn't really "know" these bears at all. He was like a guy who visits Paris every summer and doesn't speak French thinking he's knows the city better than the natives.
And leads to death for the grizzlies that begin habitually ransacking tourist sites and nearby humans’ homes, because they end up executed by law enforcement or wildlife management.
Another thing I didn't mention is that contrary to Timothy's claims of "saving" and "protecting" bears, several bears had to be put down either directly because of Tim's interference with them or indirectly. The bear that consumed Timothy was killed the day his remains were collected. That bear was necropsied the following day. A younger bear also had to be killed on that first day because we were trying to collect remains and map out the whole site and that bear acted aggressively. We were unable to necropsy that younger bear because he was eaten by other bears before we got back the next day to do the necropsies. but aside from those two bears, over the years that Timothy was engaged in activity that resulted in some bears becoming habituated and potentially dangerous to visitors, we had to put some of them down. And it's hard to describe how deflating and sickening it feels to put down an animal in that situation. It breaks your heart even as you understand it has to be done for the safety of human visitors.
I just finished reading another comment you posted and also your replies to the people who commented on it. I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, opinions and experiences with this situation. There were a few things I have always wondered about in the back of my mind after watching a documentary about Tim a long time ago. It sounds like there were quite a few tragedies that happened and it all could have easily been avoided. I’m sure it felt terrible to be put in that position to take the lives of animals when it shouldn’t have come to that in the first place. I hear of this happening far too often with all sorts of different animals because of human interference in one way or another. That’s why we have so many types of animals that are not extinct or on the verge of extinction. It’s so unfortunate, to say the least.
"It just seems like he wasn't going to be satisfied until he was eaten." I'm fairly certain that he probably changed his mind about *that* in his last agonizing moments alive.
Fun fact: back when he was a police officer he had a very famous ufo encounter. A car chase, in fact. There’s old footage of him talking to the press about it.
I see so many people nowadays who don’t know how to even read the body language of cats and dogs. Pushing these animals to the point of lashing out, thinking they are oh so special with their ability to anthropomorphize.
Body language is a pseudoscience. People can’t read animals’s mind with body language. It’s like when humans think animals are saying “I love you” through their body language by barking. You even mention this. People make up patterns and that’s why you can’t just read body language. There isn’t one real science article that states reading body language is real. I really hate how some psychologists push it. There’s no evidence to it.
I sing to my neighbor's cat in the window because i really get off on how it looks down on me with the face that clearly says "Who the FK is this idiot?!?! AGAIN!?!?!"
Ever since I came across the videos of a dog using buttons to communicate start becoming self aware of itself and having an existential crisis was when I realized cats/dogs are so much more complex than most would ever realize. The dog is on anti-anxiety meds now. They are so smart and can be taught to communicate as well as a small child. That alone should elevate their treatment and protection in society yet we still have so many abusers in the world :( also I was very skeptical of the story before watching many videos of the dog using the buttons in different context and truly don't think it's random. There are even prestigious university research papers being written about this dog and some others with the usage of communication buttons. If I remember the name of the dog I will come back and update my comment. It's easy to look up though if you search existential crisis dog
The scene with Treadwell talking like an adolescent on the rocks, the bear behind him standing over a bloody mess, and the crow in the background is ominous.
@@Steph8o8 is that what he did? I couldn't tell. It's messed up. It's like the guy says, Treadwell wanted them to both fear and love him. Is that the relationship he had with his parents?
I agree just in these clips he was aggressive & loud & frightening himself towards them!! ~ because he was afraid & sick thinking he was superior 2 them- 💙
Yeah, I grew up around my dad's guard dogs. They were family, but dad made very clear that I needed to respect them and their personal space. I can't imagine disrespecting wild animals and thinking it will end well...
honestly it makes sense. his "i'm an unintrusive fly" comment in the beginning really struck me because flies are one of the most intrusive and annoying animals you can have flying around and getting in your face, which is exactly what he did with these bears in the clips.
@@LasPhoenix777 I would argue that anybody trying to diet or dropping an addiction is trying to do exactly that: win an argument against your dopamine.
Is it possible that Treadwell stacked those rocks with the smiley face drawn on them himself? I can believe that park rangers left the “see you next year” flier at his campsite as a hint for him to leave, but the rock piles seem too childish to be from them as well. If Treadwell was always creating villains in his mind for him to protect the bears from, it feels plausible that he might create fake warnings from those villains for the sake of his on-camera narrative, or maybe even to make his own personal delusion feel more real to himself.
Almost without a doubt he did. And those "skinning stations" for poachers are his dumbest claim, probably made by him. Bears are skinned where they lie because how big they are. I even read a book about how he took a picture of a friend carrying a shotgun and distributed a flier claiming it was a poacher stalking a bear. He was a con man.
Notice how he have to insert himself in each and every one of his footage when we know documentarians will just document nature from afar as to not influence their behaviour. I truly think his true nature is being in the closet and denying it because Hollywood are still prejudiced against gay people at that time
There's a commenter on this page (Bees in username) who was with USF&W & worked in the area at the time. You'd have to have the patience to read both threads bc Bees posted 2 separate ones with multiple comments & replies. Bees states in their opinion Tim did all that stuff himself & Bees adds a few reasons why. If you're genuinely curious, find & read Bees 2 threads. Full of extra detail & you can see why I believe Bees is who they say they are + believe what Bees says about TT.
I understand that Dr. vdV is a busy medical and mental health professional, but man I wish he had the time to create more content. His channel is one I very frequently search for new content. Thank you for this one, Doc!
As a new sub as of this video, it's actually nice to see this little thread. It speaks well of him he doesn't post much but he posts quality. Also tbh so many people I follow go from having chill channels to posting more often but less good, then having 2nd & 3rd channels, & I feel assaulted by content. So I wasn't going to sub to anyone else but this doctor had such good analysis. Lol so yeah I'm relieved he's a slow creator bc I'm getting overwhelmed by people doing too much.
I saw a woman tell a mother that a dolphin looking at her child “loved” the child and you could even see the dolphins mouth trying to make those “I love you” movements. She was serious. Dolphins are vicious predators; like bears, they are beautiful in nature, but they are not our friend and they don’t love us. Your explanation of lack of a sense of self becoming addiction and replacing that with an unattainable delusion was fascinating. You add so much to CZcams, I wish you had time to post more. I always think about your videos for days.
I don't think it's a stretch to say a dolphin mom loves her offspring, maternal love is a powerful mammalian drive. HOWEVER a dolphin mouthing "I love you" is nonsense, they don't speak English (although they can be trained to understand and respond to human language commands) and they don't mouth words they make sounds with their blowhole and the don't have the facial muscles to really do anything like that
Well they are predators but not towards humans. Even orcas don't prey upon humans. And while a dolphin wouldn't say "I love you" to some random person at the zoo, they could have affection for their human attendants. Animals aren't unfeeling automatons, I mean humans *are* animals, and the same individual spirits that we possess are possessed by them as well. The word "animal" even comes from the Latin word "anima" for "spirit". The mother was probably just trying to give the child a sense of emotional connection that would please them without actually believing deep down that dolphins spontaneously mouth the words "I love you", I mean they don't even have lips so you wouldn't be able to discern them "mouthing" any words. Parents tell white lies like that to their kids all the time, like making up Santa Klaus to make Christmas more fun.
something that gets me about this are those clips where he has a little interaction with a red fox. the fox is clearly cautious of him, but also curious enough that it doesn’t immediately bolt. it sniffs his hand and even gives his finger a little exploratory nibble. i’d spend the rest of my life thinking about something like that, how lucky i’d feel to even get that close to a single little fox, let alone interact with it. but timothy couldn’t *just* be happy with the privilege of those little genuine moments. he was a showman, obsessed with the image of being a mere man able to control the bears, oooh, aaaah. how tragic.
@@sh4rkb4it I guess one cute little fox nibbling at your finger doesn't get you into late night shows, but endangering yourself, others and the bears does.
"showman" is a good descriptions. I could niggle about the fact that showmen usually *know* that they are putting on a show, that they can't really fly, that fire will burn them and that they can't cut a pretty leotard-clad woman into bits and then magic her back together.
I had my own experience with a fox ,it befriended ? my dog ( we often walked in a large very old cemetery for off leash time ) and this fox would come and chase my dog and they "played " together ...One day my dog n I were taking a break under a tree and the little fox came and sat with us ,I was in awe ,I felt so amazed and it was so special ,I could have taken a photo but instead I just sat there taking in every moment ,it was so beautiful ,it curled up and snoozed beside us ,it was. warm sunny mid morning and it was a truly magical moment that I treasure ....Thnakyou for reminding me of it ....such a beautiful moment in time
The Guardian had this amazing photo set once of wildlife photographers who had animals come check them out. There are some incredible shots. They had a set where a bunch of owlets just take over the camera like little goofballs. I love those unexpected encounters. I'm in a new place so I have to build new relationships but the local urban wildlife got to know me in an old place. Agree with OP; such privilege to have those moments, & I've never had to force a bird into an interaction with me. I just need to show them respect + be predictable for them (which is another thing I notice Treadwill wasn't great at) & those social birds catch on fast if you're a friendly human who fills bird feeders or carries peanuts. The gulls here gather in October to migrate together & if I set up with a loaf of bread & throw chunks up + against the wind, they'll line up like a row of airplanes & hover, then arc upwards or downwards to perfectly catch bread & they circle around & land to gobble it while the next gull hovers, waiting for its chunk to get thrown. I prefer not to anthropomorphize bc it's way cooler that we can be different species or clades & still have these mutualist moments. I shouldn't be that shocked bc wild animals have to do that with each other all the time, tho. We're the weak link.
I think he was trying to emulate Steve Irwin. Only Steve was trained and didn’t imbue human traits onto crocodiles, he knew crocs were dangerous at all times especially when they were hungry. This guy saw bears as cute I think and didn’t realise they are just as dangerous as a tiger when hungry. The fact he could visit 13 years was purely due to the fact of food resources and time of year for the bears.
Congratulations! Everything can be overwhelming. Take it in pieces, as you can. Hope you have a circle of support. All best to you on your path. Hope you heal & find peace, place, + purpose.
I've been fascinated with Timothy Treadwell and the documentary for years. I probably watch it 3x a year. I've done my days trying to analyze him and what he was thinking to do what he did however, I am more fascinated about his girlfriend who was reluctant to leave his side and once she finally did decide to leave, it was too late because the bear attack happened to them both just a day or two before she was flying out in an end to their romantic relationship. That's what's must interesting to me: why women stay around men who are clearly unbalanced and who endanger them.
I do think it’s a leftover/result of patriarchal values that women are more willing to sacrifice for romantic relationships. I think it’s changing slowly, but there is still this very common notion that women’s value comes from being desired and chosen by a man, and the older women get without nailing down a man, the less value they have, the more sad and pathetic they become. Even women who would claim to be immune from archaic notions like this are often subconsciously beholden to them, and find themselves doing all kinds of things contrary to their well being or values or self respect in order to keep or lock down a man. This is changing oh so slowly. But from the time we are little girls, it’s woven into the fabric of our identities, that we are women, and the end goal of womanhood is wife-hood and motherhood. Your career, your passions and hobbies, your independence, your wanderlust, your politics, all this is just stuff to get out of the way early, a prelude to the real show, which is domestic bliss. This is changing partly out of necessity, as our economic climate has made “domestic bliss”, the suburban American dream, a thing of the past for most people. Anyway, she was an older single woman. Why did she go along with Timothy’s antics for so long? Well, besides obviously loving him, it might be as simple as being an older, single woman made her hold on to something longer than she might have in her early 20’s. More reluctant to give up on it after putting in the time with this man, even knowing it was dangerous and not in her best interest.
Your analysis is fascinating! Thanks for mentioning the two things I took away from Grizzly Man: 1) Why couldn't Treadwell have enjoyed the genuine relationship he had with the foxes, 2) His delusional compulsion made the bears less safe by habituating them to human contact. What a bizarre tragedy and pitiable character.
Treadwell was somebody who thought he had to master whatever situation he put himself in. The foxes weren't enough of a conquest. He convinced himself that he loved the bears, but really his goal was to "dominate" them and bolster his own ego. The point I'm making has been made in other comments, just reiterating.
Well that's fun and pithy to say, i feel its an inane and superficial takeaway from the actual psychology that is being discussed here. Because when you talk about the actual psychological mechanisms and motivations that humans have, in this case Timothy treadwell, you find that that idea isn't unique. We all love ourselves more than anything else and all of the things in our lives serve as "plot devices" for our own mental landscapes of how we relate and interact with the world. Some of that has positive outcomes for other people around them and the people themselves, and some of it is negative and self-destructive. We humans consider some of that behavior and validation seeking behavior to be healthy and, in this case, sometimes unhealthy. This video examines that system validation and motivation led Timothy to this point, but it's not because he's any more self-obsessed than you are. It's just about what motivates that self-obsession for him. His addiction to reward seeking was unregulated, and while he did find some slightly positive ways to reaffirm that in likely genuinely thinking he could have a positive benefit to the bears, ultimately it moved back into unhealthy behaviors, eventually leading to him taking unnecessary risks and endangering others. At least that's my completely uneducated opinion. I get what you mean it just seems so reductive to look at this situation as a self-obsessed person and not someone who couldn't find healthy ways to validate themselves.
I know, he’s incredible!!! Such a genius. I thought I had analytical skills prior to finding his channel - and he puts me and my graduate degree in clinical psychology to serious shame. I always wonder how much time and effort goes into each video of his. I wish he could post more but I’ll take every minute of content he puts out!!
🌿🐻🌿 The indigenous people of that territory who have a deep respect and a clear delineation between the animal world and human habitat: repeatedly warned Timothy. Somehow, he felt that their wisdom was somehow misdirected. He was absolutely a frightening child like character. Sad. EXCELLENT COMMENTARY AND VIDEO PRODUCTION.
I've worked with animals for my entire career and when i tell you that animals bring out the very best and worst of us - i speak from experience. And people want to believe their special connections to animals are a real thing and they are often, OFTEN behaving in ways that are alarming or even threatening to animals. At worst it leads to a sad end for the animal. People who believe they're specially connected to animals are often quite resistant to factual or scientific knowledge and information about animals and their behaviors. It's so sad.
I'm a family med MD working in an acute care setting. I brush against mental health and personality issues constantly, without ever having an excuse to delve into them much further than considering med interactions and "dealing with" mental health issues as a barrier to my history, physical and compliance to my plan for treatment of their diabetic foot wound (or whatever). I look forward to your videos above all the similar channels because yours ring true to medical academia. I understand these are not scrupulous works of science, but you maintain an admirable level of integrity while remaining entertaining. The others grossly compromise intellectual honesty in favor of likes and subscribes.
What a valuable response and perspective. FWIW, I work in the publishing space with a genre focus on psychology and mental health (nonfiction, grounded in science and peer reviewed academic research). And I’ve partly been watching this channel with a curious eye to Dr. Van der Vaart’s rapid growth, especially given that he seems to defy the usual norms for such. For example, he’s not a content mill-no rapid or regular productions, etc. People are watching and subscribing because his videos are thoughtful, even philosophical, as much as they are entertaining, from someone in a position to *see* a bit more clearly and deeply-as much due to personal disposition as to credentials and experience. An annoying fact in my industry today is that most publishers are only willing to buy manuscripts because someone already has a “presence” and a following. This channel is evidence that people will in fact pay attention to quality essays, not because they are packaged by larger-than-life personas. But because they are valuable in and of themselves.
This was so interesting, I've never heard my experience of addiction so well articulated and explained. I didn't realize that dopamine and movement were linked like that - I had heard about it being a 'reward' chemical but I didn't realize how fundamental it is to movement, and then to motivation and seeking. And how addiction is perpetual seeking for that fleeting feeling of being ok. Thank you for this video, this really made an impact on me.
In Treadwell's video of the foxes, you can see how dogs and humans have a certain way with each other that makes relationships between members of the two species possible. I know dogs are the result of the domestication of wolves, not foxes, but still. That fox was interacting with him, it was interested in him. It shows a glimpse to 30,000 years ago when people first started the domestication process. Treadwell had more of a relationship with that fox than he ever did with any of the bears. In all of the videos of him, I have never seen a real interaction with a bear. He seemed meaningless to them. His communion with the bears was all in his head. Bears have never been domesticated by people for a reason, something that Treadwell never seemed to contemplate.
Foxes are cat software in dog hardware. They don't run in the same nature circles or food chains as people, so they aren't as threatened as they should be. The dog breed that is closest to wolves is oddly, the Shar Pei. That is why they are only recommended for experienced dog owners, are ornery and difficult to train, and aloof. Think of the opposite of a golden retriever. Same with Akitas, or the Japanese bear hunting dog. Same as Shar Peis, it should be one owner dogs and only the experienced. Honestly, foxes are probably nicer.
It's astonishing to me how powerful the delusions he held must have been. Especially if you've ever been in the presence of (even) just a "small" black bear. It stirs a deep, instinctive level of fear. Timothy's need for specialness and his desire to create this sort of parallel reality was so strong, it propelled him into a place where he could and would completely disregard the staggering reality of nature. That reality being; one of those bears, without a thought, would (and ultimately did), shred through him as though he were wet paper. I can think of nothing more disrespectful of nature.
The foxes are SOO cute. He should've showed the animals RESPECT by admiring them and studying them from a distance and not getting in their personal space or scaring them by talking to them nonstop in a manic way. He should've just embraced how lucky he was to be in their presence at all but it wasn't enough for him
You are right. The bears are another form of addiction for him - you see it in a lot of addicts who get themselves clean. They start another addiction, buying clothes, start training excessively, eating food for self soothing, staying in control and distracting themselves. Drugs and alcohol is a form of self regulation when you can’t regulate your own feelings, it’s just shows up differently in people. I love your videos - keep up the good work!
After getting clean, I gained 60 pounds in a matter of months. I ate a pint of Ben and Jerry’s every night, by myself. I still haven’t been able to lose all the weight. It’s horrid.
Ceebee Same story I’ve heard from most men women who quit drinking or using drugs. A lot of them joining Overeaters Anonymous and it helps a lot. There is a spiritual aspect to the program, but most people more on having other people who know what they’ve been through and they know what they’re going through and you don’t get judged there It’s really nice to walk into a room and people get it I gotta go back
He's very camp and hearing him repeat himself over and over again - it sounds like he's trying to convince himself, not the viewer. This guy was very unwell IMO. He comes across as anxious and desperate to be liked.
@@rebekah7635 I think the "camp" impression comes from him acting so childish: high voice, baby talk and those constant repetitions. But with him it's not an affectation or personal style. I would say it's a mix of arrested development and the after effects of years of drug abuse. I could imagine that part of what made him survive for twelve years was that thanks to his "mutual respect" delusion he didn't act like prey, so the bears finally labeled him as "weird, ignore if possible" . And since bears are social creatures, young Cubs would copy that "not edible, not dangerous --> ignore" from their Mamas.
@@Vitaminsiobhan English isn't my first language, but l think 'camp' describes a grown man acting cutesy/ childlike on purpose. Treadwell wasn't doing that on purpose, and IMO he was much more Peter Pan than grown man.
@Julia-lk8jn no, it doesn't. Camp is a word that essentially means "funny in a gay way". Its over the top and silliness but in ways that are reminiscent of/paying homage to gay men. Very weird word they chose to use for this point.
Glad I found this channel. Narcissism was my first & overwhelming impression regarding Treadwell & not only did it get him killed, it got his girlfriend killed too.
I remember when this happened. I figured his luck would run out sooner or later. He lasted quite a few years camping in grizzly country….and because he got so close to the bears, he took some awesome wildlife photos, and video. Right after this happened, I saw photos of what was left of Tim. The bear ate him down to the bone. Just about the only thing the bear did not consume were Tim’s feet…..his hiking shoes were still on but from the ankle up…..it was all leg bone. His girlfriend was in pieces. The bear was found to be old and malnourished. I believe there were two bears involved and the second bear was a juvenile I think. The bear wanted a meal before going into hibernation. That’s normal. What is not normal is for a person to place themselves directly in the line of a hungry, old bear 🐻. Tim placed himself right on the trails that the grizzlies use to moved around the area. He rolled the dice time after time and eventually, the bears got him. Just like Steve Irwin….took chance after chance, until……..
I don't believe you but I'll humor you. We've all heard that ol'y ate him and left nothing but his head and right forearm. I wasn't sure if they meant that literally or were just exaggerating. So if you're telling the truth, was he damn near fully eaten as they say?
Wow wow wow. You blew my mind with the entire conceptualization of Tim - in particular his regression back to the oral stage via his alcohol addiction, and then the desire to regress into the womb or innards of the bear by engaging in such high risk behaviors that he literally ended up inside of a bear. Just fascinating. You are truly one of the greatest minds and I am awestruck after every single one of your videos. Thank you for the time and effort you put into these masterpieces for us so that we can be enlightened!! 💗
"So why are addictions so hard to quit"? Because, as was stated here, we are NOT addressing the root problem...which is "SELF". The moment I completely accepted that Mark was the root problem, was the very moment I began to recover. Not once in more than 30 years of continuous sobriety, have I doubted that fact. True sobriety is about being ok in the midst of chaos, (not of our making, hopefully.) or at 3:18am when I am alone and in complete silence. What a gift! Thank you for this fascinating study!
There actually isn't really any 1-10 level for these soul suckers.. To try and identify the differences between personality disorders, and especially narcissism is folly for the every day human.. Covert, overt.. Pick it.. I married a very beautiful and successful one.. Found my true love.. Professionally (in person) identified, by her own therapist we went to.. (wrong answer, "you're fired!").. I just happen to have a titanium spine and a mind, while very much confused, wasn't going to put up with insanity.. Be careful people on what you consider a narcissist.. Like AD/HD diagnoses forever.. There is a truly huge difference between someone acting narcissistic, and those who ARE narcissists.. There are none I've ever come across or heard about that has a legit halo..
I just went through almost 10 years of mental health & addiction & eating disorder treatment and have never heard of why dopamine is so powerful in holding me hostage to those addictive cycles. I have now recovered but damn it was hard. Inside I am constantly seeking - even though today I have the skills to say no, plan ahead, and set up my life to a level where addiction is no longer possible. Thank for explaining this to me. Appreciate you sharing your knowledge, about this poor man Mr. Treadwell and his partner too. I understand his desire to escape into that world of addiction - on the one hand. On the other, it's a life sentence if you don't find a way of beating yourself at your own game and becoming stronger than your own physiology / psychology.
I'm sure it didn't help his mental health to be absolutely by himself for months at a time, just him and his paranoid thinking churning and churning. We need each other to stay sane!
Although I agree people are social animals. Treadwell only went to Alaska once a year for 2 weeks. He also had his girlfriend with him in this dangerous trip.
@@lizblock9593 yes and no, I think other human beings can drive you just as nuts as solitude. I think in Treadwell's case, his mental problems drove him away from people; animals had the great advantage that they can't verbally tell you "get lost, weirdo". And you are right, he could happily indulge in his delusions and reinforce them with his video clips / soliloquies.
I heard Tim was an actor trying out for roles. He was up for Woody in the sitcom Cheers. The role ultimately went to Woody Harrelson and that was the last straw. After he didn’t get the role he wanted or he sort of failed in the acting arena in his own mind sent him on a journey of solitude to the Alaskan wilderness to live with the bears and become their savior. He was always saying he was there to protect them, even though they were already in a national park where the bears were protected and already had forestry rangers paid to patrol the area. RIP Tim, his girlfriend, and that bear.
33:20 the description of how addiction and dopamine works in addiction was so clear and concise and in easy to understand terms. Its the clearest picture Ive ever gotton. Thank you plus that nakes sense that he replaced his addiction sadly without coming to face the core dysfunction and really healing
I agree! This was a great explanation of dopamine's role in addiction along with the explanation of how it reassigns value and why other things don't matter. I also loved the inclusion of St. Anselm's ontological argument. ;-)
Perhaps most perplexing to me is that he was vowing to protect these bears while inside Katmai National Park, where these bears are protected by law already. And in the end the bears he swore to protect where euthanized and dissected to recover his own body parts. Not to mention the danger the recovery team was placed in
Your content is so interesting, some of the best on the internet in my opinion - I’ve rewatched your videos countless times! Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to provide us with all this cool stuff! It has helped me improve my perspective on life and myself in general in many ways. I would love to leave a suggestion for a future video that I think would be very interesting and maybe provide some help for those in a vulnerable position, is it okay if I do that? I don’t want to stress you out by seeming too demanding. Either way, I hope you are doing well! Can’t wait to see what you have in store for us :)
@@boobootheballbreaker2092 As a neuroscientist + psychologist his schedule is probable quite packed, which is why I hesitate to request topics/videos/etc. Let’s hope he has time and motivation one day! Until then i’ll rewatch his available content, it never gets old😁
Tim Treadwell's "Rescue Mission" actually endangered the Grizzlies. I cant remember the source, but some Natives of this area were furious about Treadwell. Reason was, that the bears got used to humans because of Tim and started wandering closer to settlements. Some bears had to be shot because of this behavior if I remember correctly. Tim Treadwell was never interested in protecting bears. He was only interested in a cheap adrenaline rush that will eventually result in his death.
Treadwell cost the life of the bear who killed him, ultimately failing to protect the bear. His childish chatter was so cringe, how could his partner put so much faith in him?
He was doing what I see so many people do with animals-anthropomorphism. "He loves me, he loves my kids, he would never hurt the baby!! Hes family!" Makes me crazy. Talking to you, social media people who force their dog to snuggle your newborn baby so you can get likes!👋
😂 yeah yeah. People that bandy that word about , anthro whatever, Ohhh you hate vegans (understandable ) and you also shoe horn in “ubiquitous “ whenever possible
I get what you're saying, but humans are far more dangerous than dogs. Human adults maim or kill more children (and dogs) than dogs, and there's a reason that parents are investigated first when a child dies from unnatural causes or goes missing.
Why would you hate vegans? Is animal cruelty acceptable to you? You couldn't cope with the things I have seen or read. That's not a boast. That's the awful reality of existing in a world where completely unhinged, diabolical degeneracy is perpetrated on sentient beings who can't escape, and whose horrific violent end was perpetrated by people who could be your next door neighbour. You have no idea.
You got it wrong. The opening scene is a rocky creek with an salmon mostly consumed on the rocks in the background and ol' Timothy is lecturing a bear and then goes into lovey dovey sorry mode. No, this isnt a tragedy its comedy gold.
My buddies frkm work and I ised to watch the movie and qoute it all day whike laughing through the humdrum. Well, we were young and into dark humor. It was absolutely hilarious, not a far reach for someone to percieve it as comedy, Herzog's voice and narrative as the cherry in top. I do realize two people lost thier lives and aome bears as well. That is not good.
A lot of people that have wild animals as pets are like this. Think of Tiger King or anything like that. There’s almost always a belief that they are special or have a special bond with the animals rather than the respect of how dangerous a wild animal is, and how space and proper boundaries are a necessity when admiring or caring for them. Now add the attention social media can bring when interacting with them and you have a recipe for disaster! The amount of shark whisperers I see on tiktok everyday is growing, and I think it’s a ticking time bomb until a wild animal reminds you they’re just that- wild, unpredictable, apex predators that are not your friend. Lastly if he truly loved wildlife he would respect them enough to put their needs before his own. I do think there’s a difference between wildlife handlers/ conservationists and then someone like him.
Your explanation of dopamine’s role in motivation and how it can be redirected was really interesting, and I feel like it helps me understand some of my own addictive tendencies.
What other humans are even around trying to harm these bears other than him harassing them? He's delusional and paranoid. What is he protecting them from??! Fascination with the poop that "Was inside of her"....he really didn't seem stable at all.
Thank you so much for making this video, Andrew. There's so much insightful information here. Especially the connection between dopamine and addiction. These revelations are priceless.
This is such a great channel. Combining neuroscience with psychoanalysis and true crime is extremely interesting. His explanations of things is also very compelling.
Absolutely fascinating. The most compelling analysis I’ve seen yet regarding Tim Treadwell. It was only by chance he wasn’t maimed or killed sooner. The irony of him wanting no bears to be harmed , is unfortunate considering the outcome. Side note: Keith Morrison is ICONIC 😂
To confirm the cause of death of 2 human beings, which is ultimately more important than the life of 1 bear, as sad as that sounds considering the circumstances of how this happened to begin with. Human life comes 1st to other humans.
Even before the man’s death his influence had damned the bears to this fate. They grew too used to approaching people thanks to him, and this is the result. Two people dead, and two bears dead. All it takes is one single person. Unfortunately rangers often have to euthanize wild animals that have grown too accustomed to human contact because of situations like this. Even when the animal isn’t a predator, if it comes to rely on people for nutrition and socialization it ceases to be able to survive in its natural habitat. The only notable thing about this man in particular was his attempt to film a documentary about his efforts to “save the bears”. Stupid people die every day because they think they are bear, wolverine, or moose Jesus
@@ben10hanson If a bear was eating a rib cage, that's a pretty good clue that the person was dead. Why exactly is a human's life worth more than a bear's.
I do not know why, for years, I've actively avoided this documentary. And I am VERY happy I followed my decision. I severely clash with people like Tim. Those with zero common sense. I'm grateful to see it through the doc's eyes in THIS piece, I prefer this video, much more than putting myself through hell, hearing Tim talk, let alone show pure, psychotic behavior. I do not trust my own species, and I agree with Everyone talking about how this is happening even with cats and dogs. Yes, you know who you are and what you are doing is very wrong. Thanks again Andrew for another eye-opening moment in nutty human history.
I believe Timmy felt emasculated as well. He was constantly trying to prove he was a “Real Man”. I don’t know if that was a result of his up bringing. But when is it not?
He most certainly was trying to get his manhood back!! From what? I think he was gay n hated himself for it so that's why he isolated in the woods with animals that don't care. I also think his mother fkd his head up when he was child and that's why he acted like one when alone
Treadwell's demeanor rings of child abuse at the hands of a narcissist. The infantilizing, the unaddressed vulnerable narcissism, the attachment towards animals above humans, delusions of grandeur, etc. On one hand, I hold pathos for him, because he was clearly a damaged soul who thought he was doing well. On the other hand, he helped endanger many other people's lives by acclimating many of these bears to human presences. Worse yet, he also endangered the very bears he claimed to love. But, it wasn't about a healthy love. It was a one-sided, delusional love that comes from someone who is detached from reality and seeking validation through his "selfless acts" and his "better approach to naturalism". He felt like he was being gifted something, because he alone was special, and that everyone else was wrong, including specialists in this field.
What could a man possibly "protect" or "guard" a grizzly bear from. Very delulu 😢 I think your commentary on addiction and arrested development was very interesting.
Fascinating as always. I feel sorry for this man with his delusions. I need to listen to your video several more times; there’s so much knowledge you’re imparting that I couldn’t absorb it all in one pass. Thank you so much!
I've seen Herzog's documentary, and think the scenes from Treadwell's life away from the bears give you all you need to know. He's badly crippled inside, and obsessed with his image (check out the hair obsession). In its own strange way, his being eaten by the bear fulfills his ambitions. Fantastic film.
When people are steeped in their delusions and no longer attached to reality, their eyes change. It fillls me with visceral dread to see, and this man has it. It's uncanny to hear such chidlike language coming from a nearly 50-year-old man.
As an atheist who was in AA for ten years, it's possible for it to work without religious belief. The higher power can also be a faith that you will be safe, loved, and okay, if you have stop trusting yourself (or the dopamine). Also the community is a really big aspect, as are the steps. If you do all of the steps thoroughly and as intended. It was the single best thing I've done for myself. It saved my life, full stop.
It still only works for under 5% of people who try it, and worse still it causes incredible damage and death to those who believe its tenets are legitimate. Constantly triggering relapse cycles and a sense of complete worthlessness. Its “all or nothing” logic triggers deadly relapses and I’ve seen it far too often.
I don't have a personal history with addiction, but I have close family members who do. I'm not longer religious, so I really appreciate your take on the higher power. And I'm glad you're here to share it. Thank you 💙
I felt the same way about the foxes! It was such a beautiful scene, and he wouldn’t have lost his life living with them at least. He also must have known his death by bear would likely lead to the bear being killed, so the only real answer is selfishness or delusion.
As a biologist that actually met Treadwell, I found this fascinating. Here are just a few of my personal "insights" as a person who studied brown bears and who met, and tried to encourage Treadwell to behave in ways more conducive to long life.
Treadwell didn't work with the Park Rangers and biologists at Katmai. Many of us tried to gently suggest to him the idea that naturalists actually DO contribute to the body of knowledge we have about the natural world and encouraged him to direct his obsession toward activities more in line with how a naturalist would observe the natural world. But Tim didn't have the discipline for doing the kind of observation that would have been useful. He filmed bears doing unnatural things - interacting with a human - instead of staying away and filming them doing what they would naturally be doing without human interference. Some of his video inadvertently caught bears in the distance, but most of what he filmed does not shed any light on the natural behavior of the bears.
Treadwell had actually left the park and got all the way to the airport, but had some kind of altercation with an airline employee and decided to go back to the park. One of the rangers saw him at a local store appearing to "gear up" and pretty much knew he was going back to the wilderness. Treadwell was reminded that most bears are already hibernating and the only ones that are still out and about that time of the year are the ones that instinctively know they have not put on enough weight to make it through hibernation. Those bears are desperately fighting against time. They must get the weight on and then find a safe place to hibernate and it was very late into the season, so late that most bears were already in hibernation. They are far more dangerous at this point.
The audio has not been released to the public, there are many fakes out there. In the fake audios you hear the bear growling and everyone thinks oh how scary. A growling bear is actually trying to scare you away, not trying to actually physically attack you. In the real recording the bear doesn't growl at all. The copy that was made by staff in order to be studied for clues as to what happened was destroyed.
Keep in mind that bears don't have bandages and antibiotics they can apply to themselves. I know this sounds snarky, but it's important to know they will not take unnecessary risks, even a risk that doesn't appear to present a danger of actual death. A wound that gets infected can be devastating for non human animals.
Here is an explanation of the situations where a bear will become aggressive. No growling of any kind by the bear is heard on the audio of the actual event where Tim lost his life. We have no such audio of the event that ended Amy's life and can't say whether it was a feeding event or some other reason for the aggression on her. The audio ends partway through the event involving Tim.
1. A female bear will become physically aggressive to protect her cubs. In this case the female will growl, stand up trying to look as big as possible, do everything she can do physically intimidate the encroacher to leave on it's own. This involves the bear making lots of growling noises.
2. A bear that has found a good location for feeding will protect the area they are currently feeding. This is another case where they will make lots of noise, they will stand up in an effort to present as large a presence as possible. Again, loud growling will be a large part of the effort to protect a prime feeding location.
3. Males will aggressively protect access to females during breeding season. This is yet another instance where loud growling takes place. Again, these animals in this and the first two situations are trying to get the encroaching animal to leave without having to resort to actual physical contact, which could seriously wound or kill one or both animals.
4. The last form of "aggression" is feeding. This is the one type of aggression that does not involve growling and noise. The real tape was horrifyingly chilling BECAUSE of the lack of growling by the bear.
Thank you for your excellent comment!
This was fascinating. Thank you for sharing.
It was all for him. He didn't care about the harm he would cause.
Thank you for a very informative comment!
One thing that I find fascinating and enchanting about biologists is the lengths to which they'll go to observe animals with minimal interference. By now, drones and increasingly small cameras make that easier, but in a lot of documentaries you see scientists crouching in hide-out for hours and days.
My impression of Timothy Treadwell from any clip I've ever seen is that he wanted that status as the gentle powerful fearless Friend and Protector of the bears more than he wanted to really observe and learn. His videos document how bears react to a human intruder, and sadly, so does his death.
I imagine it must have been hard for the rangers to see somebody messing about with both the bears and the park rules for years, always with the unspoken question of whether _this_ would be the year when his luck would run out.
@@Julia-lk8jn Yes, it was hard not to think it was going to end badly for Treadwell. He seemed very paranoid and somehow convinced himself that we were his enemy. But the rangers are specifically there to make sure people enjoy their time in the wild, they wanted him to be able to get great video of bears and other wildlife, to enjoy himself, and to be safe so he could continue to do that year after year.
National Parks are specifically designated as land where no area is off limits (aside from living quarters and areas designated for the staff). So, Timothy wasn't actually breaking any laws, but he often broke the safety rules, particularly the rules that involve safe distances between yourself and wildlife. And he started more and more breaking rules regarding camping as he convinced himself more and more that rangers were his enemy and somehow they were stalking him, leaving messages for him, and trying to "stop him from protecting the bears." His paranoia really grew more and more over the years.
I do not believe those "messages" were left by anyone, I think Tim set those up himself. That area is accessible by plane and rangers generally spend their time in the area around the falls, interacting with visitors. I don't believe anyone flew out there to leave him these bizarre messages.
I think Dr van der Vaart's insight is spot on and actually helped me feel less guilty about not being able to help Tim.
As much as he could be very frustrating, all of us were truly heartbroken, but ultimately I think most of us weren't surprised that something terrible happened.
Your description of biologists crouching in the wild reminds me of the earliest days - I was primarily a behavioral biologist, but also involved in survey and monitoring work. Today biologists use advanced tools for tracking and monitoring bears - GPS collars, video collars, we also still sedate bears to investigate their general condition. So, there isn't as much crouching in the wild as in the old days, but us old timers really enjoy that part of it.
Sorry to write so much. Can you tell that part of the job I truly loved the most involved conducting programs for the general public, which I enjoyed being able to do from time to time. 🙂
It’s so strange to see a grown ass man on his knees in the grass, baby talking to a big stinking grizzly bear that’s clearly stalking him. Surreal almost.
Except that he survived for 13 years doing it, right man?!! 😅 😂 🤣
Tone of voice has a lot to do with bonding/training an animal
@@jadedoe9966 Which tone of voice do you think it would work please? I have no intention of speaking to bears Im just curious.
@musicbrazilian7065 the only tone i would ever use to speak to a bear comes from brass, lead, and a LOT of gunpowder...
I wuv u. Its okay i wuv u
Another example of a similar delusion was the Tiger King. When a tiger attacked him, he was furious as if the tiger had betrayed him. 😏
Ah yes The Tiger King.. March 2020 was weird as hell😂
Poor tiger… I haven’t seen the documentary, but I hope the animals were OK when all was said and done
@spiralrose if the animals were all fine and good at the end dude wouldn't be in jail.
@@spiralrose No they weren’t. He needlessly killed lots of tigers and all sorts of animals. Not even the humans around him were safe in the end.. You should check the series out.
Yes, extremely bad for humans and tigers. One human life, one human arm, and countless tigers were lost because of the "tiger king"
I recently relapsed after my service dog died a few months ago, and now I want to reach a sober place again and really needed to hear the part about addiction. thank you. I did it before for almost ten years, (it was a few months before my ten year sobriety) I can do it again.
It is probably a very bad moment in your life, so no wonder you relapsed. I wish you a lot of strength to endure this tough time. Your doggie would want you happy. ❤ don’t give up
As someone who’s struggled his whole life with various addictions I have never heard anyone break things down like that. I found it very helpful. Gave me some more insight into myself.
❤
YOU GOT THIS!! KEEP GOING STRONG!!
I'm so sorry to hear about your service dog. I know from family who utilize them that they are not just companions they are such a huge part of being independent and navigating the world, often literally. Also, relapsing in no way means you can't keep going at sobriety. Relapaes happen. Life is fckin hard and sh1t happens, it's challenging. Sober living is a daily practice, you've got this.
The most shocking thing about this case is that he lasted as long as he did
Yes the bears should've got rid of him long ago
He didn't know the bears developed an appetite for liberal fruitcake.
I just feel sorry for his girlfriend, she knew bad stuff was going to happen.
What's astonishing to me is that he lasted 13 years, considering the way he was all up in the bears' faces....
To be honest, he only spent a few weeks out of each year, not constantly, but I agree
@@Torgo-and-the-Lucifer-Cat Yes. Treadwell spent 13 SUMMERS there, not 13 years. It was a total of about 3 1/2 years that he was out there and almost always in Summer, when grasses, berries and Salmon were present. A fed bear isn't safe, but they're safer than a hungry aggressive one about to go into hibernation.
It’s because he only spent the summer in an area with plentiful food. That final year he stayed into the fall when bears start to become more aggressive in a year with food scarcities that would have aggravated the bears. Finally, staying later in the season brought in bears that treadwell hadn’t been around before in the previous summers.
I would like to see him in the beginning, comfort seems to lead to overconfidence.
This only confirms that bears do not attack humans very often actually. He lasted 13 years and was provoking almost an attack.
He needed to live among mental health professionals, not bears.
Yes, sadly, Timothy needed a mental health intervention and evaluation.
🤣🤣🤣 💯
That's good
@@tredjesongen Hahaha a fresh take on the men vs bears dialogue
@@tredjesongen Mental health care is more than psych meds, and is valuable and important. I respect that you may have had a negative experience, but that is not reflective of the field as a whole, and your language matters.
Thanks. To add: he only spent a few weeks out of each year in the wild, not constantly. Even the natives in the area hated him, normalizing animals to human presence is deadly.
This seems obvious in retrospect, but as a kid i imagined him living in a cabin off grid with bears all year. He didn't really "know" these bears at all. He was like a guy who visits Paris every summer and doesn't speak French thinking he's knows the city better than the natives.
And leads to death for the grizzlies that begin habitually ransacking tourist sites and nearby humans’ homes, because they end up executed by law enforcement or wildlife management.
1:18 "he did live among them, every summer for 13 years"
sounds like a couple weeks of the year and not constantly imo
@kingti85 okay, but summer is 3 months, he only spent 3 or 4 weeks out of that, so not even 1/3 of the summer. Let's just agree he was foolish.❤️
@@Torgo-and-the-Lucifer-Cat Oh yea...I been playing too much Stardew Valley I forgot irl seasons are 3 months not 1 🤦😩
Another thing I didn't mention is that contrary to Timothy's claims of "saving" and "protecting" bears, several bears had to be put down either directly because of Tim's interference with them or indirectly.
The bear that consumed Timothy was killed the day his remains were collected. That bear was necropsied the following day. A younger bear also had to be killed on that first day because we were trying to collect remains and map out the whole site and that bear acted aggressively. We were unable to necropsy that younger bear because he was eaten by other bears before we got back the next day to do the necropsies.
but aside from those two bears, over the years that Timothy was engaged in activity that resulted in some bears becoming habituated and potentially dangerous to visitors, we had to put some of them down. And it's hard to describe how deflating and sickening it feels to put down an animal in that situation. It breaks your heart even as you understand it has to be done for the safety of human visitors.
That’s so heartbreaking. I can’t imagine how devastating & frustrating that was to deal with. I’m so sorry you had to deal the mess Timothy created.
Exactly. He couldn’t see beyond his nose
Exactly, anyone doing this stuff is doing it solely to feed their ego, even if they haven't admitted it to themselves.
I just finished reading another comment you posted and also your replies to the people who commented on it. I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, opinions and experiences with this situation. There were a few things I have always wondered about in the back of my mind after watching a documentary about Tim a long time ago. It sounds like there were quite a few tragedies that happened and it all could have easily been avoided. I’m sure it felt terrible to be put in that position to take the lives of animals when it shouldn’t have come to that in the first place. I hear of this happening far too often with all sorts of different animals because of human interference in one way or another. That’s why we have so many types of animals that are not extinct or on the verge of extinction. It’s so unfortunate, to say the least.
This is the real tragedy for me. Poor bears
"It just seems like he wasn't going to be satisfied until he was eaten."
I'm fairly certain that he probably changed his mind about *that* in his last agonizing moments alive.
He probably thought it as impossible that these "friends" would harm him lol
I hope this never happens to that guy who feeds hot dogs to racoons on his porch.
Fun fact: back when he was a police officer he had a very famous ufo encounter. A car chase, in fact. There’s old footage of him talking to the press about it.
Good point OP
You think a bear might show up one night?
The coons and squirrel on my deck sit up and beg…though, I would not want to get close to them.
😂
I see so many people nowadays who don’t know how to even read the body language of cats and dogs. Pushing these animals to the point of lashing out, thinking they are oh so special with their ability to anthropomorphize.
Body language is a pseudoscience. People can’t read animals’s mind with body language. It’s like when humans think animals are saying “I love you” through their body language by barking. You even mention this. People make up patterns and that’s why you can’t just read body language. There isn’t one real science article that states reading body language is real. I really hate how some psychologists push it. There’s no evidence to it.
This. 👆
I sing to my neighbor's cat in the window because i really get off on how it looks down on me with the face that clearly says "Who the FK is this idiot?!?! AGAIN!?!?!"
Ever since I came across the videos of a dog using buttons to communicate start becoming self aware of itself and having an existential crisis was when I realized cats/dogs are so much more complex than most would ever realize. The dog is on anti-anxiety meds now. They are so smart and can be taught to communicate as well as a small child. That alone should elevate their treatment and protection in society yet we still have so many abusers in the world :(
also I was very skeptical of the story before watching many videos of the dog using the buttons in different context and truly don't think it's random. There are even prestigious university research papers being written about this dog and some others with the usage of communication buttons. If I remember the name of the dog I will come back and update my comment. It's easy to look up though if you search existential crisis dog
@@litneyloxancats are doing it now.
Men will literally move to Alaska to live with grizzly bears instead of going to therapy
I saw a post on instagram of a woman saying she’s safer with a bear than a man
@@thefunguy5069speaking purely statistically she’s not wrong lol. The most likely animal to kill you is another human being
One man. One.
@@thefunguy5069 depends on the man.
@@thefunguy5069Yeah because she probably wouldn't be getting in the bears face and baby talking them like this dude
One of the best explanations of addiction that I’ve ever heard. I work in the recovery space and have been in recovery for 34 years. Thank you doc!
The scene with Treadwell talking like an adolescent on the rocks, the bear behind him standing over a bloody mess, and the crow in the background is ominous.
1. I never want to intentionally be near a wild bear 2. If I did get near one and happened to be by his food/snack I'D BE EVEN MORE WORRIED
The crow was getting excited like "aww shit it's finally going down i told you tim i told you"
Sad to see him punch the bear. 🐻
@@Steph8o8 is that what he did? I couldn't tell. It's messed up. It's like the guy says, Treadwell wanted them to both fear and love him. Is that the relationship he had with his parents?
He played Russian roulette again, and again, and again.
And dragged his girlfriend into the 'casino'. He had delusions that the bears would not harm him, and she had delusions that he would not harm her.
Yaaaas falecia
They found his severed head, part of his spine, an arm with his watch on it. He was torn apart , eaten alive. What a dumb ass.
Lots of people do…
His behaviour with these bears. Hell, my dog would have bit him for being so f*cking annoying.
I agree just in these clips he was aggressive & loud & frightening himself towards them!! ~ because he was afraid & sick thinking he was superior 2 them- 💙
Yeah, I grew up around my dad's guard dogs. They were family, but dad made very clear that I needed to respect them and their personal space. I can't imagine disrespecting wild animals and thinking it will end well...
lol
Yeah mine would have bitten him too.
honestly it makes sense. his "i'm an unintrusive fly" comment in the beginning really struck me because flies are one of the most intrusive and annoying animals you can have flying around and getting in your face, which is exactly what he did with these bears in the clips.
“You can’t argue with your own dopamine”
Touché 😂
well that doesn’t stop me from trying
Right ?
😂
I'd love to be able to control and use my dopamine for my own enjoyment 😉
@@LasPhoenix777 I would argue that anybody trying to diet or dropping an addiction is trying to do exactly that: win an argument against your dopamine.
@@Julia-lk8jn 💯🎯
Precisely.
Is it possible that Treadwell stacked those rocks with the smiley face drawn on them himself? I can believe that park rangers left the “see you next year” flier at his campsite as a hint for him to leave, but the rock piles seem too childish to be from them as well. If Treadwell was always creating villains in his mind for him to protect the bears from, it feels plausible that he might create fake warnings from those villains for the sake of his on-camera narrative, or maybe even to make his own personal delusion feel more real to himself.
Almost without a doubt he did. And those "skinning stations" for poachers are his dumbest claim, probably made by him. Bears are skinned where they lie because how big they are.
I even read a book about how he took a picture of a friend carrying a shotgun and distributed a flier claiming it was a poacher stalking a bear.
He was a con man.
@@Wanderlust598100% . Clown definitely got what was coming to him, and for a very long time, oh well don’t mess with bears, right?
Notice how he have to insert himself in each and every one of his footage when we know documentarians will just document nature from afar as to not influence their behaviour. I truly think his true nature is being in the closet and denying it because Hollywood are still prejudiced against gay people at that time
There's a commenter on this page (Bees in username) who was with USF&W & worked in the area at the time. You'd have to have the patience to read both threads bc Bees posted 2 separate ones with multiple comments & replies.
Bees states in their opinion Tim did all that stuff himself & Bees adds a few reasons why. If you're genuinely curious, find & read Bees 2 threads. Full of extra detail & you can see why I believe Bees is who they say they are + believe what Bees says about TT.
Park rangers don't like it when you feed the bears
It's fucking dangerous
I understand that Dr. vdV is a busy medical and mental health professional, but man I wish he had the time to create more content. His channel is one I very frequently search for new content. Thank you for this one, Doc!
Me too. All his content is fascinating. I feel like I've been to a lecture after I've watched one.
Me too!!
I don’t think I appreciate anyone else’s professional and human opinion more than Dr. VdV.
As a new sub as of this video, it's actually nice to see this little thread. It speaks well of him he doesn't post much but he posts quality. Also tbh so many people I follow go from having chill channels to posting more often but less good, then having 2nd & 3rd channels, & I feel assaulted by content. So I wasn't going to sub to anyone else but this doctor had such good analysis. Lol so yeah I'm relieved he's a slow creator bc I'm getting overwhelmed by people doing too much.
Agree. I just came across this today. Amazing content. I've always been fascinated by Treadwell, but now I think I understand him.
I saw a woman tell a mother that a dolphin looking at her child “loved” the child and you could even see the dolphins mouth trying to make those “I love you” movements. She was serious. Dolphins are vicious predators; like bears, they are beautiful in nature, but they are not our friend and they don’t love us.
Your explanation of lack of a sense of self becoming addiction and replacing that with an unattainable delusion was fascinating. You add so much to CZcams, I wish you had time to post more. I always think about your videos for days.
I don’t know, I’ve heard about dolphins that REALLY REALLY love humans. Wink, wink.
I don't think it's a stretch to say a dolphin mom loves her offspring, maternal love is a powerful mammalian drive. HOWEVER a dolphin mouthing "I love you" is nonsense, they don't speak English (although they can be trained to understand and respond to human language commands) and they don't mouth words they make sounds with their blowhole and the don't have the facial muscles to really do anything like that
@@Archie0pteryx dolphins are really rapey, with humans. That’s my point.
Well they are predators but not towards humans. Even orcas don't prey upon humans. And while a dolphin wouldn't say "I love you" to some random person at the zoo, they could have affection for their human attendants. Animals aren't unfeeling automatons, I mean humans *are* animals, and the same individual spirits that we possess are possessed by them as well. The word "animal" even comes from the Latin word "anima" for "spirit". The mother was probably just trying to give the child a sense of emotional connection that would please them without actually believing deep down that dolphins spontaneously mouth the words "I love you", I mean they don't even have lips so you wouldn't be able to discern them "mouthing" any words. Parents tell white lies like that to their kids all the time, like making up Santa Klaus to make Christmas more fun.
I think any animal can express love. But human child whey would probably use as a toy and eat it later lol.
something that gets me about this are those clips where he has a little interaction with a red fox. the fox is clearly cautious of him, but also curious enough that it doesn’t immediately bolt. it sniffs his hand and even gives his finger a little exploratory nibble. i’d spend the rest of my life thinking about something like that, how lucky i’d feel to even get that close to a single little fox, let alone interact with it. but timothy couldn’t *just* be happy with the privilege of those little genuine moments. he was a showman, obsessed with the image of being a mere man able to control the bears, oooh, aaaah. how tragic.
@@sh4rkb4it I guess one cute little fox nibbling at your finger doesn't get you into late night shows, but endangering yourself, others and the bears does.
"showman" is a good descriptions. I could niggle about the fact that showmen usually *know* that they are putting on a show, that they can't really fly, that fire will burn them and that they can't cut a pretty leotard-clad woman into bits and then magic her back together.
@@Julia-lk8jnlmao what's n*ggle?
I had my own experience with a fox ,it befriended ? my dog ( we often walked in a large very old cemetery for off leash time ) and this fox would come and chase my dog and they "played " together ...One day my dog n I were taking a break under a tree and the little fox came and sat with us ,I was in awe ,I felt so amazed and it was so special ,I could have taken a photo but instead I just sat there taking in every moment ,it was so beautiful ,it curled up and snoozed beside us ,it was. warm sunny mid morning and it was a truly magical moment that I treasure ....Thnakyou for reminding me of it ....such a beautiful moment in time
The Guardian had this amazing photo set once of wildlife photographers who had animals come check them out. There are some incredible shots. They had a set where a bunch of owlets just take over the camera like little goofballs. I love those unexpected encounters. I'm in a new place so I have to build new relationships but the local urban wildlife got to know me in an old place. Agree with OP; such privilege to have those moments, & I've never had to force a bird into an interaction with me. I just need to show them respect + be predictable for them (which is another thing I notice Treadwill wasn't great at) & those social birds catch on fast if you're a friendly human who fills bird feeders or carries peanuts. The gulls here gather in October to migrate together & if I set up with a loaf of bread & throw chunks up + against the wind, they'll line up like a row of airplanes & hover, then arc upwards or downwards to perfectly catch bread & they circle around & land to gobble it while the next gull hovers, waiting for its chunk to get thrown. I prefer not to anthropomorphize bc it's way cooler that we can be different species or clades & still have these mutualist moments. I shouldn't be that shocked bc wild animals have to do that with each other all the time, tho. We're the weak link.
He seems to have seen himself as a sort of Dian Fossey or Jane Goodall with bears, only without the education
They were both pretty delusional too tbh
To be fair, and this is not in support of Timothy, but Dian Fossey only had an education in occupational therapy.
3 cuckoo's in the same cage. 😂
A big streak of "tiger king" as well.
I think he was trying to emulate Steve Irwin. Only Steve was trained and didn’t imbue human traits onto crocodiles, he knew crocs were dangerous at all times especially when they were hungry. This guy saw bears as cute I think and didn’t realise they are just as dangerous as a tiger when hungry. The fact he could visit 13 years was purely due to the fact of food resources and time of year for the bears.
Came here to learn about grizzly man, ended up realizing I need actual help for addiction.
Sounds like you’ve got a good, self-reflective head on your shoulders. Wishing you the best of luck in your recovery journey ❤
Hey, good for you, that's a really important moment to have. Wish you well in recovery 💗
Congratulations! Everything can be overwhelming. Take it in pieces, as you can. Hope you have a circle of support.
All best to you on your path. Hope you heal & find peace, place, + purpose.
Bless
@@Emiliapocalypsesilence woman
I've been fascinated with Timothy Treadwell and the documentary for years. I probably watch it 3x a year. I've done my days trying to analyze him and what he was thinking to do what he did however, I am more fascinated about his girlfriend who was reluctant to leave his side and once she finally did decide to leave, it was too late because the bear attack happened to them both just a day or two before she was flying out in an end to their romantic relationship. That's what's must interesting to me: why women stay around men who are clearly unbalanced and who endanger them.
They were breaking up??
I never knew she was trying to leave him.
Do you think it's the same reason men stay unbalanced women who are dangerous to them, or different?
I do think it’s a leftover/result of patriarchal values that women are more willing to sacrifice for romantic relationships. I think it’s changing slowly, but there is still this very common notion that women’s value comes from being desired and chosen by a man, and the older women get without nailing down a man, the less value they have, the more sad and pathetic they become. Even women who would claim to be immune from archaic notions like this are often subconsciously beholden to them, and find themselves doing all kinds of things contrary to their well being or values or self respect in order to keep or lock down a man. This is changing oh so slowly. But from the time we are little girls, it’s woven into the fabric of our identities, that we are women, and the end goal of womanhood is wife-hood and motherhood. Your career, your passions and hobbies, your independence, your wanderlust, your politics, all this is just stuff to get out of the way early, a prelude to the real show, which is domestic bliss. This is changing partly out of necessity, as our economic climate has made “domestic bliss”, the suburban American dream, a thing of the past for most people.
Anyway, she was an older single woman. Why did she go along with Timothy’s antics for so long? Well, besides obviously loving him, it might be as simple as being an older, single woman made her hold on to something longer than she might have in her early 20’s. More reluctant to give up on it after putting in the time with this man, even knowing it was dangerous and not in her best interest.
Say Patriarchy one more time. Psycho hags lmao
Your analysis is fascinating! Thanks for mentioning the two things I took away from Grizzly Man: 1) Why couldn't Treadwell have enjoyed the genuine relationship he had with the foxes, 2) His delusional compulsion made the bears less safe by habituating them to human contact. What a bizarre tragedy and pitiable character.
He put his ego over the animals he said he loved. He didn't.
If he had just stuck with the foxes he'd be a worldwide sensation
1 - thats a great point 🦊🤔 sad
Treadwell was somebody who thought he had to master whatever situation he put himself in. The foxes weren't enough of a conquest. He convinced himself that he loved the bears, but really his goal was to "dominate" them and bolster his own ego. The point I'm making has been made in other comments, just reiterating.
I'm 95% confident that he was feeding those foxes, or "accidentally" leaving out food for them.
Timothy Treadwell was in love with Timothy Treadwell. The bears, regardless of his words, were secondary. A plot device to propel his own image.
100% 👏👏👏✔️☝️
I agree like some families use their own children for “likes” --
True and so was his poor girlfriend. He didn’t think twice about putting her in danger.
Well that's fun and pithy to say, i feel its an inane and superficial takeaway from the actual psychology that is being discussed here. Because when you talk about the actual psychological mechanisms and motivations that humans have, in this case Timothy treadwell, you find that that idea isn't unique. We all love ourselves more than anything else and all of the things in our lives serve as "plot devices" for our own mental landscapes of how we relate and interact with the world. Some of that has positive outcomes for other people around them and the people themselves, and some of it is negative and self-destructive. We humans consider some of that behavior and validation seeking behavior to be healthy and, in this case, sometimes unhealthy.
This video examines that system validation and motivation led Timothy to this point, but it's not because he's any more self-obsessed than you are. It's just about what motivates that self-obsession for him. His addiction to reward seeking was unregulated, and while he did find some slightly positive ways to reaffirm that in likely genuinely thinking he could have a positive benefit to the bears, ultimately it moved back into unhealthy behaviors, eventually leading to him taking unnecessary risks and endangering others. At least that's my completely uneducated opinion.
I get what you mean it just seems so reductive to look at this situation as a self-obsessed person and not someone who couldn't find healthy ways to validate themselves.
If he was so fearless why didn't he ever bang a female bear on camera..like any REAL man lol.
Thanks so much for another video. You’re definitely one of the most interesting creators on CZcams. I could listen to you for hours and hours.
I know, he’s incredible!!! Such a genius. I thought I had analytical skills prior to finding his channel - and he puts me and my graduate degree in clinical psychology to serious shame. I always wonder how much time and effort goes into each video of his. I wish he could post more but I’ll take every minute of content he puts out!!
Agreed, best most insightful intelligent CZcamsr there is.
Absolutely. Another brilliant creator of video essays here on YT is Horses (that’s the channel name, though it’s not about horses). Highly recommend.
Absolutely agree. It’s an amazing channel!
🌿🐻🌿 The indigenous people of that territory who have a deep respect and a clear delineation between the animal world and human habitat: repeatedly warned Timothy. Somehow, he felt that their wisdom was somehow misdirected. He was absolutely a frightening child like character. Sad. EXCELLENT COMMENTARY AND VIDEO PRODUCTION.
Agreed
I've worked with animals for my entire career and when i tell you that animals bring out the very best and worst of us - i speak from experience. And people want to believe their special connections to animals are a real thing and they are often, OFTEN behaving in ways that are alarming or even threatening to animals. At worst it leads to a sad end for the animal. People who believe they're specially connected to animals are often quite resistant to factual or scientific knowledge and information about animals and their behaviors. It's so sad.
I'm a family med MD working in an acute care setting. I brush against mental health and personality issues constantly, without ever having an excuse to delve into them much further than considering med interactions and "dealing with" mental health issues as a barrier to my history, physical and compliance to my plan for treatment of their diabetic foot wound (or whatever). I look forward to your videos above all the similar channels because yours ring true to medical academia. I understand these are not scrupulous works of science, but you maintain an admirable level of integrity while remaining entertaining. The others grossly compromise intellectual honesty in favor of likes and subscribes.
What a valuable response and perspective. FWIW, I work in the publishing space with a genre focus on psychology and mental health (nonfiction, grounded in science and peer reviewed academic research). And I’ve partly been watching this channel with a curious eye to Dr. Van der Vaart’s rapid growth, especially given that he seems to defy the usual norms for such. For example, he’s not a content mill-no rapid or regular productions, etc. People are watching and subscribing because his videos are thoughtful, even philosophical, as much as they are entertaining, from someone in a position to *see* a bit more clearly and deeply-as much due to personal disposition as to credentials and experience.
An annoying fact in my industry today is that most publishers are only willing to buy manuscripts because someone already has a “presence” and a following. This channel is evidence that people will in fact pay attention to quality essays, not because they are packaged by larger-than-life personas. But because they are valuable in and of themselves.
You need an Integrated Behavioral Health provider in your clinic.
This was so interesting, I've never heard my experience of addiction so well articulated and explained. I didn't realize that dopamine and movement were linked like that - I had heard about it being a 'reward' chemical but I didn't realize how fundamental it is to movement, and then to motivation and seeking. And how addiction is perpetual seeking for that fleeting feeling of being ok. Thank you for this video, this really made an impact on me.
In Treadwell's video of the foxes, you can see how dogs and humans have a certain way with each other that makes relationships between members of the two species possible. I know dogs are the result of the domestication of wolves, not foxes, but still. That fox was interacting with him, it was interested in him. It shows a glimpse to 30,000 years ago when people first started the domestication process. Treadwell had more of a relationship with that fox than he ever did with any of the bears. In all of the videos of him, I have never seen a real interaction with a bear. He seemed meaningless to them. His communion with the bears was all in his head. Bears have never been domesticated by people for a reason, something that Treadwell never seemed to contemplate.
Foxes are cat software in dog hardware. They don't run in the same nature circles or food chains as people, so they aren't as threatened as they should be. The dog breed that is closest to wolves is oddly, the Shar Pei. That is why they are only recommended for experienced dog owners, are ornery and difficult to train, and aloof. Think of the opposite of a golden retriever. Same with Akitas, or the Japanese bear hunting dog. Same as Shar Peis, it should be one owner dogs and only the experienced. Honestly, foxes are probably nicer.
@@Nylon_riotthat’s interesting way of looking at foxes. They even move somewhat catlike.
The first human that approached wild animals probably got killed until one is lucky enough to find a cub that they could tame
It's astonishing to me how powerful the delusions he held must have been. Especially if you've ever been in the presence of (even) just a "small" black bear. It stirs a deep, instinctive level of fear.
Timothy's need for specialness and his desire to create this sort of parallel reality was so strong, it propelled him into a place where he could and would completely disregard the staggering reality of nature. That reality being; one of those bears, without a thought, would (and ultimately did), shred through him as though he were wet paper.
I can think of nothing more disrespectful of nature.
That poor bastard was so full of himself. How did he ever find a girlfriend, much less one willing to be eaten by bears.
It's harder to get a girl the right way, they don't particularly have sound or risk-less logic. Plenty of Tims and his girl in the world.
The foxes are SOO cute. He should've showed the animals RESPECT by admiring them and studying them from a distance and not getting in their personal space or scaring them by talking to them nonstop in a manic way. He should've just embraced how lucky he was to be in their presence at all but it wasn't enough for him
You are right. The bears are another form of addiction for him - you see it in a lot of addicts who get themselves clean. They start another addiction, buying clothes, start training excessively, eating food for self soothing, staying in control and distracting themselves. Drugs and alcohol is a form of self regulation when you can’t regulate your own feelings, it’s just shows up differently in people.
I love your videos - keep up the good work!
After getting clean, I gained 60 pounds in a matter of months. I ate a pint of Ben and Jerry’s every night, by myself. I still haven’t been able to lose all the weight. It’s horrid.
Alice Cooper changed his addiction from alcohol to golf.
Ceebee
Same story I’ve heard from most men women who quit drinking or using drugs.
A lot of them joining Overeaters Anonymous and it helps a lot.
There is a spiritual aspect to the program, but most people more on having other people who know what they’ve been through and they know what they’re going through and you don’t get judged there
It’s really nice to walk into a room and people get it
I gotta go back
He's very camp and hearing him repeat himself over and over again - it sounds like he's trying to convince himself, not the viewer. This guy was very unwell IMO. He comes across as anxious and desperate to be liked.
I was wondering if anyone else noticed the camp
What's being camp got to do with anything?
@@rebekah7635 I think the "camp" impression comes from him acting so childish: high voice, baby talk and those constant repetitions.
But with him it's not an affectation or personal style. I would say it's a mix of arrested development and the after effects of years of drug abuse.
I could imagine that part of what made him survive for twelve years was that thanks to his "mutual respect" delusion he didn't act like prey, so the bears finally labeled him as "weird, ignore if possible" . And since bears are social creatures, young Cubs would copy that "not edible, not dangerous --> ignore" from their Mamas.
@@Vitaminsiobhan English isn't my first language, but l think 'camp' describes a grown man acting cutesy/ childlike on purpose. Treadwell wasn't doing that on purpose, and IMO he was much more Peter Pan than grown man.
@Julia-lk8jn no, it doesn't. Camp is a word that essentially means "funny in a gay way". Its over the top and silliness but in ways that are reminiscent of/paying homage to gay men. Very weird word they chose to use for this point.
Glad I found this channel. Narcissism was my first & overwhelming impression regarding Treadwell & not only did it get him killed, it got his girlfriend killed too.
and the bears
@@mischr13 Yes!
IMHO I think he felt overwhelmingly depressed from not making the cast of Cheers.
Also he's keeps saying that he's straight when even the bears can see through him
I think Treadwell was bipolar (& narcissistic:)
When I don't hang out with bears, my risk of bear attacks plummet.
I remember when this happened. I figured his luck would run out sooner or later. He lasted quite a few years camping in grizzly country….and because he got so close to the bears, he took some awesome wildlife photos, and video. Right after this happened, I saw photos of what was left of Tim. The bear ate him down to the bone. Just about the only thing the bear did not consume were Tim’s feet…..his hiking shoes were still on but from the ankle up…..it was all leg bone. His girlfriend was in pieces. The bear was found to be old and malnourished. I believe there were two bears involved and the second bear was a juvenile I think. The bear wanted a meal before going into hibernation. That’s normal. What is not normal is for a person to place themselves directly in the line of a hungry, old bear 🐻. Tim placed himself right on the trails that the grizzlies use to moved around the area. He rolled the dice time after time and eventually, the bears got him. Just like Steve Irwin….took chance after chance, until……..
I don't believe you but I'll humor you.
We've all heard that ol'y ate him and left nothing but his head and right forearm.
I wasn't sure if they meant that literally or were just exaggerating.
So if you're telling the truth, was he damn near fully eaten as they say?
His photos?
There is no photos of him tho
@@NickyBlue99 the state of Alaska never released them
At least Steve Irwin made real efforts at conservation, even if it was largely performative
Wow wow wow. You blew my mind with the entire conceptualization of Tim - in particular his regression back to the oral stage via his alcohol addiction, and then the desire to regress into the womb or innards of the bear by engaging in such high risk behaviors that he literally ended up inside of a bear. Just fascinating.
You are truly one of the greatest minds and I am awestruck after every single one of your videos. Thank you for the time and effort you put into these masterpieces for us so that we can be enlightened!! 💗
Been surfing for 50 years. You see a shark you get out of the f#*&ing water!!
Martin Short would nail this role.
"So why are addictions so hard to quit"? Because, as was stated here, we are NOT addressing the root problem...which is "SELF". The moment I completely accepted that Mark was the root problem, was the very moment I began to recover.
Not once in more than 30 years of continuous sobriety, have I doubted that fact. True sobriety is about being ok in the midst of chaos, (not of our making, hopefully.) or at 3:18am when I am alone and in complete silence. What a gift! Thank you for this fascinating study!
A dumb narcissist is much worse than just a narcissist
There actually isn't really any 1-10 level for these soul suckers.. To try and identify the differences between personality disorders, and especially narcissism is folly for the every day human.. Covert, overt.. Pick it.. I married a very beautiful and successful one.. Found my true love.. Professionally (in person) identified, by her own therapist we went to.. (wrong answer, "you're fired!").. I just happen to have a titanium spine and a mind, while very much confused, wasn't going to put up with insanity.. Be careful people on what you consider a narcissist.. Like AD/HD diagnoses forever.. There is a truly huge difference between someone acting narcissistic, and those who ARE narcissists.. There are none I've ever come across or heard about that has a legit halo..
@@frisk151everyone is on the spectrum these days. The parents then go to diagnose their special children.
All narcissist are dumb. They think they know it all. Even better than the ecosystem which has existed since we came from the caves.
A la Trump 😂
They used to be starseeds and indigo children and lightworkers🙄
I just went through almost 10 years of mental health & addiction & eating disorder treatment and have never heard of why dopamine is so powerful in holding me hostage to those addictive cycles. I have now recovered but damn it was hard. Inside I am constantly seeking - even though today I have the skills to say no, plan ahead, and set up my life to a level where addiction is no longer possible. Thank for explaining this to me. Appreciate you sharing your knowledge, about this poor man Mr. Treadwell and his partner too. I understand his desire to escape into that world of addiction - on the one hand. On the other, it's a life sentence if you don't find a way of beating yourself at your own game and becoming stronger than your own physiology / psychology.
I'm sure it didn't help his mental health to be absolutely by himself for months at a time, just him and his paranoid thinking churning and churning. We need each other to stay sane!
Although I agree people are social animals.
Treadwell only went to Alaska once a year for 2 weeks. He also had his girlfriend with him in this dangerous trip.
He brought his gf a bunch of times.
@@lizblock9593 yes and no, I think other human beings can drive you just as nuts as solitude. I think in Treadwell's case, his mental problems drove him away from people; animals had the great advantage that they can't verbally tell you "get lost, weirdo".
And you are right, he could happily indulge in his delusions and reinforce them with his video clips / soliloquies.
I heard Tim was an actor trying out for roles. He was up for Woody in the sitcom Cheers. The role ultimately went to Woody Harrelson and that was the last straw. After he didn’t get the role he wanted or he sort of failed in the acting arena in his own mind sent him on a journey of solitude to the Alaskan wilderness to live with the bears and become their savior. He was always saying he was there to protect them, even though they were already in a national park where the bears were protected and already had forestry rangers paid to patrol the area. RIP Tim, his girlfriend, and that bear.
RiP to his girlfriend
"I will die for these animals." Well, he got that part right.
33:20 the description of how addiction and dopamine works in addiction was so clear and concise and in easy to understand terms. Its the clearest picture Ive ever gotton. Thank you plus that nakes sense that he replaced his addiction sadly without coming to face the core dysfunction and really healing
I agree! This was a great explanation of dopamine's role in addiction along with the explanation of how it reassigns value and why other things don't matter. I also loved the inclusion of St. Anselm's ontological argument. ;-)
Perhaps most perplexing to me is that he was vowing to protect these bears while inside Katmai National Park, where these bears are protected by law already. And in the end the bears he swore to protect where euthanized and dissected to recover his own body parts. Not to mention the danger the recovery team was placed in
The recovery team had to kill a smaller bear because it was being aggressive. 😢
Oh no! My second graders just walked in and now I have to wait all day to watch this! 😢
I totally get the "Excuse me, ITS MA'AM!" vibe from Treadwell, demanding to be validated.
Thank you for posting the excellent analysis.
The fact that he just HAD to talk THE WHOLE time, is a huge red flag to me re his narcissism, versus just appreciating the bears, being bears!
the Werner Hertzog documentary is mind blowing. His delusion was off the charts, and he was allowed into so many schools to speak with children.
Those bears were probably tired of him. Pretty sad but fascinating. Love all of your videos!
nah
Your content is so interesting, some of the best on the internet in my opinion - I’ve rewatched your videos countless times! Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to provide us with all this cool stuff! It has helped me improve my perspective on life and myself in general in many ways.
I would love to leave a suggestion for a future video that I think would be very interesting and maybe provide some help for those in a vulnerable position, is it okay if I do that? I don’t want to stress you out by seeming too demanding. Either way, I hope you are doing well! Can’t wait to see what you have in store for us :)
I would love if he did a q&a. I have one question in particular.
@@boobootheballbreaker2092 As a neuroscientist + psychologist his schedule is probable quite packed, which is why I hesitate to request topics/videos/etc. Let’s hope he has time and motivation one day! Until then i’ll rewatch his available content, it never gets old😁
Tim Treadwell's "Rescue Mission" actually endangered the Grizzlies. I cant remember the source, but some Natives of this area were furious about Treadwell. Reason was, that the bears got used to humans because of Tim and started wandering closer to settlements. Some bears had to be shot because of this behavior if I remember correctly. Tim Treadwell was never interested in protecting bears. He was only interested in a cheap adrenaline rush that will eventually result in his death.
I watch Grizzly Man every other year. It never gets old.
Treadwell cost the life of the bear who killed him, ultimately failing to protect the bear. His childish chatter was so cringe, how could his partner put so much faith in him?
Manipulation
Poor Amy and poor bear, both dead because of one man.
Poor man , too. I used to think he was just stupid. But after this video I think he was seriously mentally ill.
But ultimately it was the bear.
Amy should have known that Tim was kooky. She paid with her life.
Her bad choice in a mate
IIRC 4 bears including Mr Chocolate were be euthanized because of his habituation of them
He was doing what I see so many people do with animals-anthropomorphism. "He loves me, he loves my kids, he would never hurt the baby!! Hes family!" Makes me crazy. Talking to you, social media people who force their dog to snuggle your newborn baby so you can get likes!👋
"Fur babies." VOMIT
😂 yeah yeah. People that bandy that word about , anthro whatever,
Ohhh you hate vegans (understandable ) and you also shoe horn in “ubiquitous “ whenever possible
Bingo
I get what you're saying, but humans are far more dangerous than dogs. Human adults maim or kill more children (and dogs) than dogs, and there's a reason that parents are investigated first when a child dies from unnatural causes or goes missing.
Why would you hate vegans? Is animal cruelty acceptable to you? You couldn't cope with the things I have seen or read. That's not a boast. That's the awful reality of existing in a world where completely unhinged, diabolical degeneracy is perpetrated on sentient beings who can't escape, and whose horrific violent end was perpetrated by people who could be your next door neighbour. You have no idea.
I love that he zooms in on the smiley face as some evidence of the others’ malevolence. I forgot how paranoid he gets toward the end of the doc.
I thought that Timothy's relationship with the fox was lovely. The rest? Absurd, the conclusion inevitable.
that fox really was a friend to him
You got it wrong. The opening scene is a rocky creek with an salmon mostly consumed on the rocks in the background and ol' Timothy is lecturing a bear and then goes into lovey dovey sorry mode. No, this isnt a tragedy its comedy gold.
My buddies frkm work and I ised to watch the movie and qoute it all day whike laughing through the humdrum.
Well, we were young and into dark humor. It was absolutely hilarious, not a far reach for someone to percieve it as comedy, Herzog's voice and narrative as the cherry in top.
I do realize two people lost thier lives and aome bears as well. That is not good.
Excellent video. Poor Tim, even after he found the grizzly bears, he was a lost soul.
Here to say my band is now called Bear Messiah
Bear whisperer sounds better to me 😅
Your content is unmatched and so refreshing. I'll be on a rewatch party until you upload new ones 🤍
I have severe Bipolar. Whenever people ask what I'd be like without meds, I tell them to watch the Herzog documentary about Tredwell.
This guy taught wild bears to not fear humans, he taught a couple of them to eat humans....this guy put hikers, hunters and fishermen in danger.
A lot of people that have wild animals as pets are like this. Think of Tiger King or anything like that. There’s almost always a belief that they are special or have a special bond with the animals rather than the respect of how dangerous a wild animal is, and how space and proper boundaries are a necessity when admiring or caring for them. Now add the attention social media can bring when interacting with them and you have a recipe for disaster! The amount of shark whisperers I see on tiktok everyday is growing, and I think it’s a ticking time bomb until a wild animal reminds you they’re just that- wild, unpredictable, apex predators that are not your friend. Lastly if he truly loved wildlife he would respect them enough to put their needs before his own. I do think there’s a difference between wildlife handlers/ conservationists and then someone like him.
Good comparison with shark whisperers
Your explanation of dopamine’s role in motivation and how it can be redirected was really interesting, and I feel like it helps me understand some of my own addictive tendencies.
What other humans are even around trying to harm these bears other than him harassing them? He's delusional and paranoid. What is he protecting them from??!
Fascination with the poop that "Was inside of her"....he really didn't seem stable at all.
If he films himself touching it and shows it to us, what do you think he may have done when the camera was off?
Thank you so much for making this video, Andrew. There's so much insightful information here. Especially the connection between dopamine and addiction. These revelations are priceless.
This is such a great channel. Combining neuroscience with psychoanalysis and true crime is extremely interesting. His explanations of things is also very compelling.
This mans ego would cause the death of many bears. Ego, hubris, and meglomaina.
Absolutely fascinating. The most compelling analysis I’ve seen yet regarding Tim Treadwell. It was only by chance he wasn’t maimed or killed sooner. The irony of him wanting no bears to be harmed , is unfortunate considering the outcome.
Side note: Keith Morrison is ICONIC 😂
Treadwell's behaviour CAUSED the death of the bear.
Actually I find it really hard to comprehend why it was thought necessary to kill the bear.
To confirm the cause of death of 2 human beings, which is ultimately more important than the life of 1 bear, as sad as that sounds considering the circumstances of how this happened to begin with. Human life comes 1st to other humans.
The Park Rangers who were called out to investigate their disappearance were charged by two bears, both were shot.
Even before the man’s death his influence had damned the bears to this fate. They grew too used to approaching people thanks to him, and this is the result. Two people dead, and two bears dead. All it takes is one single person. Unfortunately rangers often have to euthanize wild animals that have grown too accustomed to human contact because of situations like this. Even when the animal isn’t a predator, if it comes to rely on people for nutrition and socialization it ceases to be able to survive in its natural habitat. The only notable thing about this man in particular was his attempt to film a documentary about his efforts to “save the bears”. Stupid people die every day because they think they are bear, wolverine, or moose Jesus
@@ben10hanson If a bear was eating a rib cage, that's a pretty good clue that the person was dead.
Why exactly is a human's life worth more than a bear's.
@@greenman6141because it is. Id value any person more than a bear. Would you choose a bear over your kid?
I do not know why, for years, I've actively avoided this documentary. And I am VERY happy I followed my decision. I severely clash with people like Tim. Those with zero common sense. I'm grateful to see it through the doc's eyes in THIS piece, I prefer this video, much more than putting myself through hell, hearing Tim talk, let alone show pure, psychotic behavior. I do not trust my own species, and I agree with Everyone talking about how this is happening even with cats and dogs. Yes, you know who you are and what you are doing is very wrong. Thanks again Andrew for another eye-opening moment in nutty human history.
I believe Timmy felt emasculated as well. He was constantly trying to prove he was a “Real Man”. I don’t know if that was a result of his up bringing. But when is it not?
He has a high voice, very much like a woman's. I thought that WAS a woman talking until I looked at the screen.
He most certainly was trying to get his manhood back!! From what? I think he was gay n hated himself for it so that's why he isolated in the woods with animals that don't care. I also think his mother fkd his head up when he was child and that's why he acted like one when alone
Treadwell's demeanor rings of child abuse at the hands of a narcissist. The infantilizing, the unaddressed vulnerable narcissism, the attachment towards animals above humans, delusions of grandeur, etc. On one hand, I hold pathos for him, because he was clearly a damaged soul who thought he was doing well. On the other hand, he helped endanger many other people's lives by acclimating many of these bears to human presences. Worse yet, he also endangered the very bears he claimed to love. But, it wasn't about a healthy love. It was a one-sided, delusional love that comes from someone who is detached from reality and seeking validation through his "selfless acts" and his "better approach to naturalism". He felt like he was being gifted something, because he alone was special, and that everyone else was wrong, including specialists in this field.
I'm not sure what villains are out to get these bears except maybe poachers but even still, they live in protected reserves.
Thanks for this video. This story has been morbidly fascinating for years. He needed psych meds not bears.
What could a man possibly "protect" or "guard" a grizzly bear from. Very delulu 😢 I think your commentary on addiction and arrested development was very interesting.
"I am gentle, I am like a flower" 🌼
Fascinating as always. I feel sorry for this man with his delusions. I need to listen to your video several more times; there’s so much knowledge you’re imparting that I couldn’t absorb it all in one pass. Thank you so much!
I have been avoiding this case for reasons, but I can’t miss one of your videos so here I am.
😅 same here
It's an incredible film
That documentary was wild. I thought about it for days afterwards.
I've seen Herzog's documentary, and think the scenes from Treadwell's life away from the bears give you all you need to know. He's badly crippled inside, and obsessed with his image (check out the hair obsession). In its own strange way, his being eaten by the bear fulfills his ambitions. Fantastic film.
He was the ACME of "Play stupid games and get stupid prizes".
The problem is that he got his girlfriend to play the same game.
I think she had the same need to feel special as he did, but she wanted to feel special by dating the "bear man." Her choice.
@@MimiRAM0NE she was with him for 6 years too - I cant imagine putting up with his crap that long 😮💨
When people are steeped in their delusions and no longer attached to reality, their eyes change. It fillls me with visceral dread to see, and this man has it. It's uncanny to hear such chidlike language coming from a nearly 50-year-old man.
As an atheist who was in AA for ten years, it's possible for it to work without religious belief. The higher power can also be a faith that you will be safe, loved, and okay, if you have stop trusting yourself (or the dopamine). Also the community is a really big aspect, as are the steps. If you do all of the steps thoroughly and as intended. It was the single best thing I've done for myself. It saved my life, full stop.
It still only works for under 5% of people who try it, and worse still it causes incredible damage and death to those who believe its tenets are legitimate.
Constantly triggering relapse cycles and a sense of complete worthlessness. Its “all or nothing” logic triggers deadly relapses and I’ve seen it far too often.
Religious trauma would prevent it from working for me. I've never really recovered. However, I'm glad it worked for you!
I don't have a personal history with addiction, but I have close family members who do. I'm not longer religious, so I really appreciate your take on the higher power. And I'm glad you're here to share it. Thank you 💙
This was fascinating. Thank you. My summary would have been, “he was an idiot”.
That is sad, that’s all you got out of this. He was a troubled man as many are. Someone to be pitied and much to learn from his tragic life and end.
@@LoremLipsumz I got plenty out of it, thank you very much. After dealing with the public and their cr@p for 20 years, I learned how to summerise.
@@NativeNichesmethinks, thou doth protest too much.
Well, he did save some bears...from going hungry that day.
If only Tim had been obsessed with the cool foxes instead of the hungry, desperate bears; he might still be with us.
I felt the same way about the foxes! It was such a beautiful scene, and he wouldn’t have lost his life living with them at least.
He also must have known his death by bear would likely lead to the bear being killed, so the only real answer is selfishness or delusion.
"I come in peace and love... and I will fight them if need be!!" 🙄😂
I see Dr. van der Vaart has a new post, I click!! Thank you for this content. It is enlightening.
This is the most detailed explanation of how addiction works. Thank you so much! I learned a lot🎉
Nothin' happened to the bears since he's been gone.
Touche '