On the television channel Animal Planet they often feature shows where animals are supposedly behaving like humans.  The form clicks, they get into arguments, they get all emotional over things that happen, etc.  
    I think they have it backwards.  It's not that these animal are behaving like humans, but rather many people behave a lot like animals.  This is not surprising since physically and, to a large extent, mentally, we are animals.  While humans may have a superior brain to most animals, much of it is virtually identical.  Because of this, it is very difficult for people to avoid acting like animals, but not impossible.  
    Some promote intellectual development and education as the solution, but that doesn't appear to be the case.  Just knowing intellectually that a violent, emotional reaction to some event will not benefit you in the long run, and probably harm you, does not prevent your emotions from taking over and making you react like an animal.  So what can stop people from behaving like animals?  Only one thing, spiritual development.  When we awaken and develop our souls we will reach a point where the spiritual consciousness of the soul will override both emotional and intellectual responses.  So spiritual development is about more than what happens to us after our physical body dies.  It's also about learning to live together in peace and harmony while we are here.