Cognitations EP #11 | Human Behavioral Ecology: Putting Depression & Poverty In Context | Daniel Nettle
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Jul 19, 2024 In this engaging discussion, Daniel Nettle, a behavioral scientist with a rich background in psychology and anthropology, explores the intricate links between depression and poverty. He highlights how scarcity influences decision-making and how cultural contexts shape psychological behaviors. Nettle critiques traditional deficit models, urging a shift towards understanding social determinants of mental health. He advocates for structural reforms like Universal Basic Income to alleviate economic stress and bolster well-being, offering a fresh perspective on addressing these pressing societal issues.
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Fieldwork Entry Through A Photo
- Daniel Nettle described arriving in a Nigerian village with only a photo of his supervisor and little language skill.
- Villagers assumed he was the supervisor's son and quickly accepted him, easing his fieldwork entry.
Behavior Requires Ecological Context
- Behavioral ecology studies behavior in ecological context and views animals as purposive individuals with goals like survival and reproduction.
- It explains timing and location of behaviors by linking them to environmental structure and trade-offs.
Two Complementary Lenses On Human Behavior
- Evolutionary psychology and behavioral ecology are complementary: one probes mental mechanisms, the other studies behavior in everyday environments.
- Combining both gives fuller explanations of why people think and act as they do.
