Published Jul 14, 2020

377: Randolph Nesse | Good Reasons for Bad Feelings

Explore the fascinating insights of Randolph Nesse as he delves into the evolutionary origins of anxiety, emotions, and mental health, revealing the surprising reasons our brains prioritize genetic success over individual well-being, and how understanding this can enhance treatment approaches.

Episode Highlights

Topics covered

Questions from this episode

- What are emotions?
  Asked by 84 people
- Can you explain more about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques?
  Asked by 67 people
- Why do having kids create a sense of love and connection?
  Asked by 61 people
- Do mental challenges lead to lasting change?
  Asked by 45 people
- Can some people not quit addiction?
  Asked by 37 people
- How does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) work?
  Asked by 30 people
- What do experts say about overcoming binge eating?
  Asked by 21 people
- Can you share more details about overcoming binge eating?
  Asked by 18 people
- Why are humans slow to evolve?
  Asked by 15 people
- What are the benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in treating mental health conditions?
  Asked by 12 people
- What are the evolutionary benefits of women having more anxiety than men?
  Asked by 12 people
- How can cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) help reduce perfectionism?
  Asked by 11 people
- What causes anxiety and panic attacks?
  Asked by 11 people
- Why did I start off well with my dopamine focus and then fall back to eating donuts?
  Asked by 11 people
- Who are the experts on anxiety?
  Asked by 10 people

377: Randolph Nesse | Good Reasons for Bad Feelings

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Coping with Emotional Problems

Emotions and Evolution

Understanding Depression

Anxiety Evolution

Human Cooperation

Overcoming Anxiety

Evolutionary Eating

Pain and Anxiety

Anxiety and Social Selection

Understanding Anxiety

Natural Selection's Middle Ground

Fear, Mastery, and Aging

The Search for Mental Illness

Why Disease Exists

Evolutionary Medicine

Questions from this episode

What are emotions?

Can you explain more about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques?

Why do having kids create a sense of love and connection?

Do mental challenges lead to lasting change?

Can some people not quit addiction?

How does Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) work?

What do experts say about overcoming binge eating?

Can you share more details about overcoming binge eating?

Why are humans slow to evolve?

What are the benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in treating mental health conditions?

What are the evolutionary benefits of women having more anxiety than men?

How can cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) help reduce perfectionism?

What causes anxiety and panic attacks?

Why did I start off well with my dopamine focus and then fall back to eating donuts?

Who are the experts on anxiety?

Episode Highlights

Anxiety and Evolution

Survival and Reproduction

Mental Health Perspectives

Emotions and Genetics

377: Randolph Nesse | Good Reasons for Bad Feelings

Topics covered

Popular Clips

Questions from this episode

Episode Highlights

Anxiety and EvolutionRandolph Nesse, founding director of the Center for Evolution Medicine, discusses the evolutionary basis of anxiety and its role in human survival. He examines why anxiety often overshoots and how understanding its origins can help manage it effectively.

Anxiety and Evolution

Survival and Reproduction

Mental Health Perspectives

Emotions and GeneticsRandolph Nesse explores the evolutionary role of emotions, suggesting they benefit genetic success more than individual well-being. He examines how emotions like grief and depression may serve adaptive purposes, despite their apparent drawbacks.

Emotions and Genetics