On this episode of “Sanity” Dr. Jason Duncan and Dr. William Sanderson discuss the application of evolutionary psychology to physical and mental health problems most humans face. They define mismatch theory, which suggests we, as human beings, were built for something entirely different than how we are functioning in our current environment. The mismatch between our biology and environment is related to a number of physical (obesity, diabetes, cancer) and mental health (depression, anxiety, suicide, substance use disorders) disorders. The reason for the mismatch can be traced to the technological revolution, our endless food supply, the change in our occupations, and variations in our exposure to light. Dr. Duncan and Dr. Sanderson explore how social comparison, which was integral to the development of our species, is exacerbated through exposure to supernormal stimuli, or stimuli in extreme excess, by the advent of social media. Likewise, the fact we are constantly bombarded with information about catastrophic events greatly contributes to anxiety. They also examine various options to reduce the harmful effects of our exposure to supernormal stimuli.

Social Media Information:

Website: https://sites.google.com/view/sandersonhofstra

Blog: Our Evolutionary Selves: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/our-evolutionary-selves

Youtube Lectures: https://sites.google.com/view/sandersonhofstra/humannature

Twitter: @WCSphd