Our Evolutionary Selves

Fear

Evolution and the Fear of Self-Driving Cars

William C. Sanderson Ph.D. on March 23, 2025

Want to overcome your fear of self-driving vehicles and ultimately decrease the chance of being in an accident?

Want to overcome your fear of self-driving vehicles and ultimately decrease the chance of being in an accident?

Therapy

Is Clinical Psychology Doing Enough to Reach Male Patients?

William C. Sanderson Ph.D. on March 20, 2025

Since most psychologists are female, should there be more emphasis in their training on male psychology?

Since most psychologists are female, should there be more emphasis in their training on male psychology?

Environment

Us Versus Us in the U.S.

William C. Sanderson Ph.D. on March 6, 2021

Can what we know about our evolved human nature explain what is going on in politics?

Can what we know about our evolved human nature explain what is going on in politics?

Evolutionary theory explains the nature of all species. Why are we not relying on it in clinical psychology to explain human nature?

Health

The Toxic Effect of the Pandemic on Our Human Nature

William C. Sanderson Ph.D. on May 26, 2020

A lot of attention has been paid to mental health treatments to reduce the distress associated with the pandemic. But its impact on human's very nature may create more than we can handle.

A lot of attention has been paid to mental health treatments to reduce the distress associated with the pandemic. But its impact on human's very nature may create more than we can handle.

Evolutionary Psychology

Should We Stop Calling Frontline Workers "Heroes?"

William C. Sanderson Ph.D. on May 13, 2020

Does calling frontline workers "heroes"—especially those making low wages—stop us from doing something more to help them?

Does calling frontline workers "heroes"—especially those making low wages—stop us from doing something more to help them?

Are you in a state of panic about coronavirus? Consider that it may be worthwhile dialing that down to a more reasonable level of fear.

Resilience

Blind Spot: Failure of Imagination and Existential Threats

William C. Sanderson Ph.D. on March 15, 2020

We should understand our cognitive shortcomings now before they lead us to ignore worse threats than coronavirus.

We should understand our cognitive shortcomings now before they lead us to ignore worse threats than coronavirus.

Coronavirus will test our ability to manage the worst of our human nature. Our minds are built to fail this test. How can we overcome that to succeed?

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary Psychology and Enlightenment

William C. Sanderson Ph.D. on November 24, 2017

Programed for dissatisfaction? Thank your evolutionary roots. Consider enlightenment as a strategy to improve your well-being and to become a better person.

Programed for dissatisfaction? Thank your evolutionary roots. Consider enlightenment as a strategy to improve your well-being and to become a better person.

Environment

We Live in a Zoo!

William C. Sanderson Ph.D. on June 26, 2017

Is our current living environment creating physical and emotional problems for us?

Is our current living environment creating physical and emotional problems for us?

Evolutionary Psychology

Evolutionary Psychology Applies to Everyone

William C. Sanderson Ph.D. on March 14, 2017

Can understanding our evolutionary history help us better function in the contemporary environment? Absolutely!

Can understanding our evolutionary history help us better function in the contemporary environment? Absolutely!