The Jordan Harbinger Show 377: Randolph Nesse | Good Reasons for Bad Feelings
Jul 14, 2020
Randolph Nesse, the founding director of the Center for Evolution Medicine, explores the evolutionary roots of emotions in this insightful discussion. He explains how anxiety, depression, and anger serve critical survival purposes despite their negative aspects. Nesse dives into why worrying about social perceptions is evolutionarily beneficial and discusses the paradox of why women may choose reckless partners. He also addresses the implications of aging on health, revealing how some traits advantageous in youth can become detrimental later in life.
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The Purpose of Bad Feelings
- Bad feelings like anxiety, pain, and depression have evolutionary purposes.
- They seem excessive because they're designed to protect us, even if they overreact.
The Smoke Detector Principle
- Anxiety is like a smoke detector, often triggered by minor issues.
- This overreaction is necessary to ensure we react to real threats, minimizing catastrophic risks.
Managing Anxiety
- Expose yourself to anxiety-inducing situations and don't flee.
- This prevents the anxiety system from getting stronger because of false alarms.
