The Weekend University

Professor Jean-Louis Monestès is a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Grenoble in France, and a leading thinker into the application of evolutionary principles in psychology. He has published several chapters on evolutionary processes in clinical psychology with Steven Hayes and David Sloan Wilson, as well as articles and books on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Relational Frame Theory. In this conversation, we explore: - Why evolutionary theory can be a powerful model for effective psychotherapy - How evolutionary principles can be applied for improving outcomes in clinical work - The link between evolution, acceptance and commitment therapy and the psychological flexibility model And a whole lot more. You can learn more about Jean Louis’ work on his website: https://www.flexibilitepsychologique.fr/ Links: Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks5 Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ Jean Louis’ website: https://www.flexibilitepsychologique.fr/ Jean Louis’ workshop: https://www.flexibilitepsychologique.fr/en/darwin-as-your-clinical-supervisor-2/ Evolution and Contextual Behavioural Science: https://amzn.to/3d4qjlQ

This will be the first in a series of ‘meeting of the minds’ discussions, where we bring together leading thinkers to share perspectives on a topic of mutual interest. In this discussion, we explore the relationship between evolutionary science and clinical psychology and psychotherapy, why there needs to be greater integration between the fields, the crossover between ACT and CFT, and the role psychology can play in informing our approach to wider scale societal issues such as COVID-19 and climate change. Professor Paul Gilbert, OBE is a British clinical psychologist, the founder of compassion focused therapy (CFT), compassionate mind training (CMT) and author of books such as The Compassionate Mind: A New Approach to Life’s Challenges, Overcoming Depression. He has researched evolutionary approaches to psychopathology for over 40 years with a special focus on the roles of mood, shame and self-criticism in various mental health difficulties for which Compassion Focused Therapy was developed. Professor Gilbert has written/edited 21 books and over 200 papers. Professor Steven C. Hayes, Ph.D., is a professor of psychology at the University of Nevada. The author of forty-three books and more than six hundred scientific articles, he has served as president of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy and the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science, and is one of the most cited psychologists in the world. Dr. Hayes initiated the development of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and of Relational Frame Theory (RFT), the approach to cognition on which ACT is based. Dr Dennis Tirch is a Founding Director of The Center for Compassion Focused Therapy, the first clinical training center for Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) in the United States. Dr. Tirch has been described as one of the country's foremost leaders in compassion training in evidence-based psychotherapy. He is an internationally acknowledged expert therapist, supervisor and trainer in CFT, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Buddhist Psychology (BP). Dr. Tirch is an author of 6 books, and numerous chapters and peer reviewed articles on mindfulness, acceptance and compassion in psychotherapy. Links: Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks5 Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ Evolution and Contextual Behavioural Science - Prof Steven Hayes: https://amzn.to/3d4qjlQ Living Like Crazy - Paul Gilbert: https://amzn.to/2LMvn3a The Reith Lectures: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00729d9 Donate to: http://nokidhungry.org Learn about the Prosocial process: https://prosocial.world Prof Hayes’ website: https://stevenchayes.com Prof Gilbert’s website: https://www.compassionatemind.co.uk/ Dr Tirch’s website: http://www.mindfulcompassion.com/

Dr Paul Atkins, PhD is an organisational psychologist, author and the co-developer of The Prosocial Process along with Steven Hayes and David Sloan Wilson. This unique approach draws from the Nobel prize winning economic theory of Lin Ostrom, evolutionary science, and the psychology of behaviour change to offer a practical framework for creating highly effective, inclusive and cooperative teams - in all walks of life. In this interview, we cover: - The evolutionary science behind why human beings are fundamentally a cooperative species - Lin Ostrom’s 8 Nobel prize winning core design principles and how you can apply them to increase the effectiveness of the groups you are a member of - A practical tool for creating a strong sense of group purpose and identity in any team and why this is vital And a whole lot more. You can learn more about Paul’s work and the Prosocial Process at www.prosocial.world and you can get the book here: https://www.newharbinger.com/prosocial Links: Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks5 Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ Perceptions Matter: the Common Cause UK Values Survey: https://valuesandframes.org/values-in-action/survey The Personal Noticing Matrix discussed in the interview: http://bit.ly/prosocial-matrix ACBS: https://contextualscience.org/ Prosocial book: https://amzn.to/3hA9Cyb

Dr John Vervaeke Assistant Professor in Psychology at the University of Toronto, and the author and presenter of the YouTube series: Awakening from the Meaning Crisis. The depth and breadth of John’s knowledge are extensive which is reflected in the wide range of subjects he teaches. His courses include cognitive science, Buddhism, psychology and mental health, cognitive development, the psychology of wisdom, and many others. Over the past few years he has focused on taking his knowledge outside of academia and making it more accessible to the wider world, mainly via his hit YouTube series ‘Awakening from the Meaning Crisis’, which explores the historical causes of the meaning crisis our culture is currently experiencing, and offers some solutions too. John believes strongly in the power of dialogue to transform both individuals and culture, and spends a lot of his time engaging in meaningful conversations with other key thinkers in the field, including Jordan Peterson, Iain McGilchrist, Tim Freke, and others. He is the author of the book: Zombies in Western Culture: A 21st Century Crisis, which integrates Psychology and Cognitive Science to address the meaning crisis in Western society. You can learn more about John’s work on his website: www.johnvervaeke.com and follow him on Twitter @vervaeke_john. Links: Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks5 Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ Zombies in Western Culture - John Vervaeke: https://amzn.to/3rgcftl The Perennial Philosophy - Arthur Versluis: https://amzn.to/2YHW37Q Platonic Mysticism - Arthur Versluis: https://amzn.to/2YHcz84 Transformative Experience - L.A. Paul: https://amzn.to/3rmduY7 Voices with Vervaeke: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLND1JCRq8Vuh8TPRarb1FpwP7FSaUILC9 John’s Awakening from the Meaning Crisis Series: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLND1JCRq8Vuh3f0P5qjrSdb5eC1ZfZwWJ John’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/johnvervaeke Diagnosing the Current Age: A Symptomology of the Meaning Crisis: http://bit.ly/3oJlSPA

Online social networks like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter can be seen as a virtual extension of our psychological and emotional selves. They also happen to be an essential technology that mediates our relationships in contemporary society. The architecture of different online social networking sites enable certain aspects of self-expression while inhibiting others. The consequence is that self-expression and online relationships are necessarily altered by what different online social networking sites can or cannot do. Drawing on insights from his book The Psychodynamics of Social Networking: connected-up instantaneous culture and the self, Dr. Balick will be exploring how online social networking mediates self-expression and interpersonal relationships today. This seminar is an application of contemporary relational psychoanalysis and other related disciplines to modern technology. In this model, online social networking is seen as a product and deployment, however, faulty, of the basic human unconscious motivation to relate to others. The way in which this motivation is mediated through these platforms has important consequences for individuals, relationships to others, and society as a whole. --- Aaron Balick, PhD is a psychotherapist, cultural theorist and author applying ideas from depth psychology to culture and technology. He is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Department for Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies at the University of Essex (UK). He is a founding member and former executive chair of The Relational School UK. His books include ‘The Psychodynamics of Social Networking: Connected-up Instantaneous Culture and the Self’ and the illustrated children’s self-help book: ‘Keep Your Cool: How to Deal with Life’s Worries and Stress’. ‘The Little Book of Calm’ was released in January of 2018. Aaron is the director of Stillpoint Spaces, a psychology, co-working, therapy, and events hub in London. --- Links: - Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks - Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ - Dr Aaron Balick’s website: https://www.aaronbalick.com - Dr Aaron Balick’s Book: https://amzn.to/32QzXTr

Why is the incidence of mental illness in the UK twice that in Germany? Why are Americans three times more likely than the Dutch to develop gambling problems? Why is child well-being so much worse in New Zealand than Japan? The answer to all of these questions, hinges on inequality. This talk will explore how inequality affects us individually, how it alters how we think, feel and behave. You’ll learn about the overwhelming evidence showing that material inequalities have powerful psychological effects: when the gap between rich and poor increases, so does the tendency to define and value ourselves and others in terms of superiority and inferiority. The speakers will then go on to demonstrate that societies based on fundamental equalities, sharing and reciprocity generate much higher levels of well-being, and lay out a path towards making them a reality. Kate Pickett is Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York and leads the Public Health and Society research group. She is the co-author of The Spirit Level and The Inner Level, with Richard Wilkinson, and her work addresses the social determinants of health and well-being. She was a National Institute for Health Research Career Scientist from 2007-2012, is a Fellow of the RSA and a Fellow of the UK Faculty of Public Health. Richard Wilkinson is a British social epidemiologist, author, advocate, and political activist. He is Professor Emeritus of Social Epidemiology at the University of Nottingham, having retired in 2008. He is also Honorary Professor of Epidemiology and Public Health at University College London and Visiting Professor at University of York. In 2009, Richard co-founded The Equality Trust and was awarded the Charles Cully Memorial Medal in 2014 by the Irish Cancer Society. Links: - Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks - Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ - Kate & Richard’s books: https://amzn.to/37RwoNY

The most basic aspects of our psychology were shaped by the “social leap” our distant ancestors made from the rainforest to the savannah. In their struggle to survive on the open grassland, our ancestors prioritized cooperation and teamwork over physical prowess, creating a new form of social intelligence that set the stage for our rise to the top of the food chain. In this talk I trace our evolutionary history over the last six million years to show how events in our distant past guide our lives today. William von Hippel is an evolutionary psychologist and the author of the bestselling book: ‘The Social Leap’. He grew up in Alaska, got his B.A. at Yale and his PhD at the University of Michigan, and then taught for a dozen years at Ohio State University before finding his way to Australia, where he is a professor of psychology at the University of Queensland. He has published more than a hundred articles, chapters, and edited books, and his research has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, The Economist, the BBC, Le Monde, El Mundo, Der Spiegel, and The Australian. He lives with his wife and two children in Brisbane, Australia. Links: - Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks - Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ - Professor von Hippel’s book: https://amzn.to/31glOP0 - Two Monkeys Were Paid Unequally: Excerpt from Frans de Waal's TED Talk: https://youtu.be/meiU6TxysCg

Martin Wilks is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist, Associate fellow of the British Psychological Society, and is a registered applied psychology practice supervisor. Martin specialises as an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Practitioner, and in this interview, we discuss some of the core ideas of the approach, psychological flexibility, the benefits of living a values based life, and the link between ACT and ‘The Ecological Self’. You can learn more about Martin’s work on his website: www.martinwilks.com.

The traditional use of psychoactive plants and fungi for spiritual and shamanic purposes has occurred for thousands of years, whereas the Western scientific research of these substances has only been explored in the last 100 years or so, and prohibition stalled 50 years of this. Now that scientific research is resuming, what do psychedelics tell us about the stranger and more exotic side of human consciousness and its connection with the natural world, and what can be learned from the traditional shamanic practices with these substances? Exploring the nature-connectedness, interspecies interactions and eco-consciousness arising from the use of psychedelics this talk considers what can be learned from animism and shamanism in informing both psychology and ecology. Fusing research from parapsychology, transpersonal psychology, ecopsychology, ethnobotany and the scientific investigation of psychedelics a perspective of transpersonal ecopsychology views plant/fungus-human interactions as meaningful, potentially transformative and sorely needed given the current rate of manmade species extinction on Earth. --- Dr David Luke is Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Greenwich and Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Centre for Psychedelic Research, Imperial College. His research focuses on transpersonal experiences, anomalous phenomena and altered states of consciousness, especially via psychedelics, having published more than 100 academic papers in this area, including ten books, most recently Otherworlds: Psychedelics and Exceptional Human Experience (2nd ed., 2019). When he is not running clinical drug trials with LSD, conducting DMT field experiments or observing apparent weather control with Mexican shamans he directs the Ecology, Cosmos and Consciousness salon at the Institute of Ecotechnics, London, and is a cofounder and director of Breaking Convention: International Conference on Psychedelic Consciousness. He has given over 300 invited public lectures and conference presentations; won teaching, research and writing awards; organised numerous festivals, conferences, symposia, seminars, retreats, expeditions, pagan cabarets and pilgrimages; and has studied techniques of consciousness alteration from South America to India, from the perspective of scientists, shamans and Shivaites. He lives life on the edge, of Sussex. --- - Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks - Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ - Dr Luke’s book: https://amzn.to/2ADz85p

This lecture will explore the evidence for our changing environment, and suggest that there are significant cognitive biases in how we think about, and act on climate change. It will examine how organisations have attempted to mobilise the public in the fight against climate change, but these initiatives have often failed due to the public’s unwillingness to adapt their behaviour. The talk will also explore why some people deny climate change altogether, and the influence that these climate change deniers can have on global action to mitigate further damage. By analysing our attitudes to the environment, Professor Beattie will argue that we must think differently about climate change to protect our planet, as a matter of great urgency. --- Professor Geoffrey Beattie, PhD, is an internationally acclaimed psychologist, author and broadcaster. He is Professor of Psychology at Edge Hill University and in recent years a Masters supervisor on the Sustainability Leadership Programme at the University of Cambridge and Visiting Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He was Professor of Psychology at the University of Manchester from 1994-2012. He was awarded the Spearman Medal by the British Psychological Society for ‘published psychological research of outstanding merit’ and the internationally acclaimed Mouton d’Or for his work in semiotics. He is both a Chartered Psychologist and a Chartered Scientist. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an ex-President of the Psychology Section of the British Association for the Advancement of Science (B.A.). You can learn more about his work at: www.geoffbeattie.com/ --- - Get our latest psychology lectures emailed to your inbox: http://bit.ly/new-talks - Check out our next event: http://theweekenduniversity.com/events/ - Prof Beattie’s website: https://geoffbeattie.com/ - Prof Beattie’s book: https://amzn.to/3gDOlCW