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In this episode, Nathan speaks with Glenn Geher, Professor of Psychology and Founding Director of Evolutionary Studies at the State University of New York at New Paltz. Professor Geher has been the recipient of the New Paltz Alumni Association\u2019s Distinguished Teacher of the Year Award, along with Chancellor\u2019s Awards for both Teaching and Research Excellence from the State University of New York. He has penned several books including Evolutionary Psychology 101 and more recently, Positive Evolutionary Psychology, and contributes a regular blog to Psychology Today, called Darwin\u2019s Subterranean World.

This episode serves as a brilliant introduction to evolutionary psychology, as Professor Geher explains how an evolutionary perspective can shed light on modern-day issues, such as mental health conditions. He describes the significance of living in an environment we, as humans, were not evolved to exist in \u2013 coined an evolutionary mismatch. This fascinating discussion provides insight on how the principles of evolutionary psychology helps us understand human behaviour and the human experience.

Highlights

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• An evolutionary perspective on mood disorders (7:00)
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• Our minds are not evolved for large scale politics (19:00)
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• Criticisms of evolutionary psychology (24:00)
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• Neuroticism may have served a purpose (32:00)
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• Ultimate versus proximate causation (45:00)
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• Positive evolutionary psychology (60:00)
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Useful Links

Link to Geher\u2019s book, Positive Evolutionary Psychology:
\nhttps://www.amazon.com/Positive-Evolutionary-Psychology-Darwins-Living/dp/0190647124/ref=sr_1_17?keywords=geher&link_code=qs&qid=1555656027&s=gateway&sourceid=Mozilla-search&sr=8-17

Link to Geher\u2019s book, Evolutionary Psychology 101:
\nhttps://www.amazon.com/Evolutionary-Psychology-101-Psych/dp/0826107184/ref=pd_sim_sccl_1/132-8454497-6012610?pd_rd_w=p7iHG&pf_rd_p=dee70060-7c6d-4721-a321-50a27281cd22&pf_rd_r=B2WDFD1SXKKMYWVK592J&pd_rd_r=2c4bfc33-40d6-4562-8d61-b836e4bd41f1&pd_rd_wg=CcGlb&pd_rd_i=0826107184&psc=1

Glenn Geher\u2019s blog, Darwin\u2019s Subterranean World: https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/darwins-subterranean-world

David Sloan Wilson\u2019s book, Evolution for Everyone: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/191808/evolution-for-everyone-by-david-sloan-wilson/#:~:text=By%20turns%20thoughtful%2C%20provocative%2C%20and,us%20to%20improve%20that%20world