Willem Frankenhuis

Willem Frankenhuis, an Associate Professor of Evolutionary Psychobiology, dives into how harsh environments shape human development. He challenges the idea that adversity only impairs growth, revealing how stress can foster resilience and unique cognitive skills. Frankenhuis discusses impulsivity as an adaptive response in uncertain situations and introduces the concept of the 'desperation threshold' to explain behavior in deprived communities. He emphasizes the beauty of phenotypic plasticity, urging a nuanced perspective on overcoming adversity.