80,000 Hours Podcast

#179 – Randy Nesse on why evolution left us so vulnerable to depression and anxiety

125 snips
Feb 12, 2024
Randy Nesse, a pioneer in evolutionary psychiatry and professor at the University of Michigan, dives into the perplexing vulnerability of our brains to depression and anxiety. He explains how evolution effectively optimized physical health but seemingly overlooked mental well-being, leading to high rates of youth anxiety. Randy discusses how emotions like anxiety and sadness may have adaptive roles, and he critiques the narrow lens of traditional psychiatry. He emphasizes the need for an integrative approach to understanding mental health through an evolutionary perspective.
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INSIGHT

Psychiatry's Messy Transition

  • Psychiatry transitioned from psychoanalysis to biological.
  • Nesse wanted a broader approach, using evolutionary biology.
INSIGHT

Peculiar Clustering of Mental Health Problems

  • Psychiatry defines mental health problems as symptom clusters, unlike physical illnesses.
  • We lack a deep understanding of the mechanisms causing these symptoms.
ANECDOTE

Psychiatrists' Views on Low Mood

  • Nesse asked psychiatrists about the purpose of low mood, receiving varied responses.
  • Some considered it essential for humanity or relationships, others a brain disorder.
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