Evolution in Daily Life

Consumer Behavior

Wordsworth Saw It Coming

Gary Bernhard, Ed.D. and Kalman Glantz, Ph.D. on October 28, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Are you annoyed by all the ads all the time? Our focus is on what William Wordsworth called "getting and spending." It's worse than annoying.

A Personal Perspective: Are you annoyed by all the ads all the time? Our focus is on what William Wordsworth called "getting and spending." It's worse than annoying.

Sex

Conceal or Reveal: Men and Women Seeking to Cheat

Gary Bernhard, Ed.D. and Kalman Glantz, Ph.D. on August 21, 2023

A study shows that men tend to conceal relationships from potential extrapair copulation partners and women tend to reveal them: evolutionary reproductive strategies at work.

A study shows that men tend to conceal relationships from potential extrapair copulation partners and women tend to reveal them: evolutionary reproductive strategies at work.

Evolutionary Psychology

The Roots of Adam Smith's Invisible Hand

Gary Bernhard, Ed.D. and Kalman Glantz, Ph.D. on May 29, 2023

The reciprocity system of hunter-gatherer bands is the origin of philanthropy and Adam Smith"s "invisible hand," though both are several steps away from true reciprocity.

The reciprocity system of hunter-gatherer bands is the origin of philanthropy and Adam Smith"s "invisible hand," though both are several steps away from true reciprocity.

Relationships

The Roots of Adam Smith's Invisible Hand

Gary Bernhard, Ed.D. and Kalman Glantz, Ph.D. on May 13, 2023

Adam Smith's ideas, such as "the invisible hand," are distantly related to true reciprocity, the system that characterized human societies for hundreds of thousands of years.

Adam Smith's ideas, such as "the invisible hand," are distantly related to true reciprocity, the system that characterized human societies for hundreds of thousands of years.

Environment

Climate Salvation vs. the Foraging Assumption

Gary Bernhard, Ed.D. and Kalman Glantz, Ph.D. on April 12, 2023

A Personal Perspective: Evidence shows that if we don't change our behavior, climate change will cause worldwide chaos. But our species resists the necessary changes. Why?

A Personal Perspective: Evidence shows that if we don't change our behavior, climate change will cause worldwide chaos. But our species resists the necessary changes. Why?

Environment

Climate Salvation vs. the Foraging Assumption

Gary Bernhard, Ed.D. and Kalman Glantz, Ph.D. on March 4, 2023

Personal Perspective: Humans are destroying the environment. If we don't change, more species will become extinct, perhaps including us. So why are we slow to change?

Personal Perspective: Humans are destroying the environment. If we don't change, more species will become extinct, perhaps including us. So why are we slow to change?

Career

Household Tasks and Childcare: Sharing the Load?

Gary Bernhard, Ed.D. and Kalman Glantz, Ph.D. on February 18, 2023

How do men and women divide the labor at home? According to a recent study, men seem to prefer household tasks while women seem to prefer childcare tasks. Why?

How do men and women divide the labor at home? According to a recent study, men seem to prefer household tasks while women seem to prefer childcare tasks. Why?

Education

Oppositional Defiant Disorder and School

Gary Bernhard, Ed.D. and Kalman Glantz, Ph.D. on December 30, 2022

A kid who is oppositional and defiant in school may be sending an important message to adults about problems with the learning environment.

A kid who is oppositional and defiant in school may be sending an important message to adults about problems with the learning environment.

Fear

The Problem With Aging Autocrats

Gary Bernhard, Ed.D. and Kalman Glantz, Ph.D. on November 12, 2022

Why do aging dictators cling to power, even as their countries' economies decline? Nothing in our evolutionary history prepares us to give up power gracefully.

Why do aging dictators cling to power, even as their countries' economies decline? Nothing in our evolutionary history prepares us to give up power gracefully.

Fear

Evolved Proclivities for Social Connection at War With One Another

Gary Bernhard, Ed.D. and Kalman Glantz, Ph.D. on October 29, 2022

Fear of strangers and the need for social connection were compatible in the EEA, and so were self-interest and community investment. Large, diverse societies have put them at odds.

Fear of strangers and the need for social connection were compatible in the EEA, and so were self-interest and community investment. Large, diverse societies have put them at odds.

Happiness

Why Money Doesn't Buy Happiness

Gary Bernhard, Ed.D. and Kalman Glantz, Ph.D. on August 25, 2022

Would we be happier if we had a lot more money? Kahneman and Deaton show that, if we have enough, more money won't make us happier. Why not?

Would we be happier if we had a lot more money? Kahneman and Deaton show that, if we have enough, more money won't make us happier. Why not?

Anxiety

The Origin of "Loss Aversion"

Gary Bernhard, Ed.D. and Kalman Glantz, Ph.D. on August 19, 2022

Why does loss, and the anticipation of loss, feel so painful?

Why does loss, and the anticipation of loss, feel so painful?

Relationships

Who Do Fertility Doctors Secretly Impregnate Women With Their Sperm?

Gary Bernhard, Ed.D. and Kalman Glantz, Ph.D. on June 23, 2022

A Personal Perspective: Males, would you like to have a bunch of kids? Become a fertility doctor. But don't tell anyone you're the father.

A Personal Perspective: Males, would you like to have a bunch of kids? Become a fertility doctor. But don't tell anyone you're the father.

Artificial Intelligence

The Neocortex Wins the Darwin Award

Gary Bernhard, Ed.D. and Kalman Glantz, Ph.D. on May 12, 2022

In the 1940s, the human mind created a way to destroy the human species. Has the development of artificial intelligence created another?

In the 1940s, the human mind created a way to destroy the human species. Has the development of artificial intelligence created another?

Identity

The Receding Redeeming Social Value of Sports

Gary Bernhard, Ed.D. and Kalman Glantz, Ph.D. on April 22, 2022

All those fans wearing their favorite player's jersey or their team's colors at a ballgame belong to a group; however, the "economics" of sports may be undermining that sense of belonging.

All those fans wearing their favorite player's jersey or their team's colors at a ballgame belong to a group; however, the "economics" of sports may be undermining that sense of belonging.

Environment

Jasper Johns and the Direction of Art

Gary Bernhard, Ed.D. and Kalman Glantz, Ph.D. on March 26, 2022

Over the past 150 years the arts have moved from the evocation of beauty and emotion to the evocation of ideas and thoughts that engage the human cerebral cortex.

Over the past 150 years the arts have moved from the evocation of beauty and emotion to the evocation of ideas and thoughts that engage the human cerebral cortex.

Friends

Do Humans Have a "Natural Pace"?

Gary Bernhard, Ed.D. and Kalman Glantz, Ph.D. on March 1, 2022

Are you feeling overwhelmed at times by the furious pace of modern life? Perhaps there is a "natural pace" of living that our big brains are ignoring.

Are you feeling overwhelmed at times by the furious pace of modern life? Perhaps there is a "natural pace" of living that our big brains are ignoring.

Stress

Is There a Natural Pace of Living for Human Beings?

Gary Bernhard, Ed.D. and Kalman Glantz, Ph.D. on February 9, 2022

Why do so many people have stress-related physical and psychological problems? It might be that we are overriding a pace of living evolved over eons.

Why do so many people have stress-related physical and psychological problems? It might be that we are overriding a pace of living evolved over eons.

Loneliness

The Origins of the Feast: Sharing a Meal

Gary Bernhard, Ed.D. and Kalman Glantz, Ph.D. on January 20, 2022

When we grab a sandwich at work or drive through a fast-food place, we miss out on an ancient way of coming together: the shared feast.

When we grab a sandwich at work or drive through a fast-food place, we miss out on an ancient way of coming together: the shared feast.

Can male-female couples create a division of labor that makes sense in today's world, one in which the work they do is different but is valuable and valued by both?