Randolph Nesse, a pioneer in evolutionary medicine and co-author of 'Why We Get Sick', shares insights on the origins of evolutionary psychiatry. He highlights the paradox of human vulnerability to diseases despite natural selection. Nesse discusses his formative experiences and the evolution of psychiatric practices, emphasizing collaboration in research. He contrasts US and UK psychiatric practices, noting the challenges of quick prescriptions in America. The conversation dives into integrating evolutionary perspectives in mental health, urging a more comprehensive understanding of emotions.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Early Inspiration in Biology
Randolph Nesse was encouraged by his sophomore invertebrate biology teacher in 1968 to write a term paper on why aging exists.
This early support sparked his lifelong curiosity about evolutionary explanations for vulnerability to disease.
insights INSIGHT
Evolution Explains Disease Vulnerabilities
Evolution explains why traits causing disease persist through mechanisms like trade-offs and mismatches.
This framework shifts focus from disease utility to vulnerabilities shaped by evolutionary constraints.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Michigan's Evolutionary Hub
Michigan in the 1980s was a hub for evolutionary thinking with notable scientists like Dick Alexander and Richard Wrangham.
Randolph Nesse helped found the Human Behavior and Evolution Society there, fostering collaboration in evolutionary biology.
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Insights from the Frontier of Evolutionary Psychiatry
Randolph Nesse
In 'Good Reasons for Bad Feelings', Randolph M. Nesse uses insights from evolutionary biology to explain why negative emotions exist and how they can become overwhelming. He argues that emotions like anxiety and low mood are adaptive responses to specific situations, but can escalate into mental disorders. The book offers a new framework for understanding mental illness by considering the mismatch between modern environments and our evolutionary past.
Why We Get Sick
The Hidden Epidemic and How to Fight It
Ben Bikman
In "Why We Get Sick," Dr. Ben Bikman explores the profound impact of insulin on human health. He delves into the intricate mechanisms of insulin action, revealing its role not only in glucose metabolism but also in various diseases. The book challenges conventional wisdom, offering a fresh perspective on the causes and treatment of chronic illnesses. Bikman presents a comprehensive overview of insulin's multifaceted effects, highlighting its influence on inflammation, fat storage, and cellular processes. He emphasizes the importance of understanding insulin's role in achieving optimal health and well-being.
Abundance
The Future Is Better Than You Think
Peter H. Diamandis
Steven Kotler
In this book, Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler present a contrarian view that the future is brighter than commonly perceived. They document how exponential technologies, DIY innovators, technophilanthropists, and the rising billion (the world's poor empowered by modern communication technology) are conspiring to solve global problems such as access to clean water, food, energy, healthcare, education, and freedom. The authors provide examples and strategic roadmaps for governments, industries, and entrepreneurs to address these challenges, offering a optimistic outlook on the potential for technological innovation to improve human living standards[2][4][5].
A special episode on how evolutionary psychiatry and medicine came to be. Randolph Nesse, father of the field, gives an overview of his background, what it was like having to try and build a field before the internet, and the people who helped him along the way...Dr. Randolph “Randy” Nesse is a physician-scientist who helped launch the field of evolutionary medicine, showing how asking why our bodies and minds are vulnerable can guide better care. After nearly 40 years on the psychiatry faculty at the University of Michigan, he moved to Arizona State University to found and direct the Center for Evolution & Medicine, where he continues as a research professor. Randy co-authored the landmark bestseller Why We Get Sick and, more recently, Good Reasons for Bad Feelings, which brings an evolutionary lens to mental health. He also founded the International Society for Evolution, Medicine & Public Health.This podcast is financially supported by the Human Ecology Group of the Institute of Evolutionary Medicine at the University of Zurich.
Evolving Psychiatry 
