#034 - What Makes a Soldier? What Breaks a Soldier? (Dr. Hector Garcia)

Dr. Hector Garcia joins us to discuss the evolutionary psychology of warfare, how the combat theater mirrors the environment of early humans, common causes of PTSD in a military context, and the evolutionary justifications for viewing PTSD as an adaptive survival strategy.

We also explore what aspects of the military experience make it difficult for veterans to return to civilian life, what separates veterans who settle back into peacetime environments from those who don't, and in light of Hector’s TED talk, after training soldiers go to war, we ask how do we train them to come home again?

*** BOOKS MENTIONED ***

Alpha God: http://amzn.to/2iuaYRu

The Better Angels of Our Nature: http://amzn.to/2xVg3Jk

On Killing: http://amzn.to/2gpzWwZ

The Selfish Gene: http://amzn.to/2gpZ4DI

Tribe: http://amzn.to/2ipKNLu

Sex and War: http://amzn.to/2ipZu14

Fields of Combat: http://amzn.to/2yGRAom

Angst, Origins of Anxiety and Depression: http://amzn.to/2yzgBnG

*** SHOW NOTES ***

myownworstenemy.org/podcast

*** SOCIAL MEDIA ***

Facebook: facebook.com/myownworstenemyorg

Twitter: twitter.com/dannydwhittaker

*** CREDITS ***

Theme Music: Falling Down by Ryan Little http://youtube.com/user/TheR4C2010

Podcast Image: The U.S Army (Spc. Breanne Pye) https://flic.kr/p/9fPCXN

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