Dr Samuel Wilkinson is a professor at Yale, a psychiatrist, and the author of the new book: Purpose: What Evolution and Human Nature Imply About The Nature of Our Existence. His book makes a compelling and provocative case that life (particularly human life) is inherently purposeful, drawing from evolutionary biology, cognitive psychology, and neuroscience in order to do so.
In this conversation, we explore:
— Dr. Wilkinson‘s view that life is fundamentally a test and the implications this has for how we live our lives
— How each of us have the potential for both good and evil contained within
— Why relationships are the number one variable in happiness, our sense of purpose, and mental health.
— The cognitive illusions that cause us to search for happiness in the wrong places, and how to overcome them.
And more.
You can learn more about Dr. Wilkinson‘s work and get a copy of the book at https://samueltwilkinson.com
---
Samuel T. Wilkinson is Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, where he also serves as Associate Director of the Yale Depression Research Program. Dr. Wilkinson received his B.S. in mechanical engineering, summa cum laude, from Brigham Young University and later his medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Yale, where he joined the faculty following his post-graduate medical training.
His primary research has focused on depression and suicide prevention and has been funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute of Drug Abuse, the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
His research and articles have been featured in the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Wall Street Journal. He has been the recipient of many awards, including Top Advancements & Breakthroughs from the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (2017 and 2020), Top Ten Psychiatry Papers by the New England Journal of Medicine Journal Watch, the Early Career Scholar Award from the American Psychiatric Association, the Samuel Novey Writing Prize in Psychological Medicine (Johns Hopkins), the Seymour Lustman Award (Yale University), and the rank of Eagle Scout.
As a young man, he served a mission for his church in Nevada from 2002-2004, where he learned to speak fluent Spanish and to enjoy a variety of Latino cultures. He continues to serve in his church and community in as many ways as he can. He lives with his wife and their five children in southern Connecticut.
---
— Samuel Wilkinson’s website - https://samueltwilkinson.com
— Samuel Wilkinson’s books - https://amzn.to/4aZgtNq
The Weekend University