Podcasts about theory can change

Alan talks with David Sloan Wilson, renowned biologist and author, to explore the broader applications of Darwin's theory beyond genetics to cultural and personal evolution. Wilson argues against conflating evolution with Social Darwinism and highlights cooperation as a crucial trait for societal progress. He emphasizes the need for experimental and inclusive decision-making and discusses how failure drives improvement, the impact of cultural interventions, and the role of religion in fostering community. Wilson also critiques traditional economic models and explains his aim to integrate evolutionary science into global cooperation.     Guest Bio David Sloan Wilson is a distinguished evolutionary biologist with a doctorate from Michigan State University. His impressive academic career spans institutions such as Harvard University, the University of Washington, and the State University of New York Binghamton, where he is now Distinguished Professor Emeritus. David founded the Evolution Institute and co-founded the nonprofit ProSocial World, including the New Paradigm Coalition Initiative. He is an award-winning author known for his influential works, including This View of Life, Evolution for Everyone, The Neighborhood Project, and his novel Atlas Hugged. David's research and writing explore the applications of evolutionary theory to society and culture.     Show Notes (2:21) - What the evolution paradigm is (4:22) - How the evolution paradigm is seen in cultures and how it differs from Social Darwinism (6:56) - The special conditions necessary for the evolution paradigm to be effective (11:51) - The importance of a common goal for cooperation to work when people have conflicting opinions (14:11) - How failure is handled under the evolution paradigm (16:16) - Applying the evolution paradigm to education (26:17) - How the evolution paradigm applies to faith and religion (37:13) - How the cooperative approach works when it comes to national economics (39:20) - How individuals express themselves when they don't agree with the larger group (44:07) - Wilson's novel, Atlas Hugged   Links Referenced ProSocial World: https://www.prosocial.world New Paradigm Coalition Initiative: https://www.prosocial.world/community/new-paradigm-coalition This View of Life: Completing the Darwinian Revolution: https://www.amazon.com/This-View-Life-Completing-Revolution/dp/1101870206 Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way we Think About Our Lives: https://www.amazon.com/Evolution-Everyone-Darwins-Theory-Change-ebook/dp/B000OI0GCA The Neighborhood Project: Using Evolution to Improve my City, One Block at a Time: https://www.amazon.com/Neighborhood-Project-Using-Evolution-Improve-ebook/dp/B0047Y0FHS Atlas Hugged: https://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Hugged-David-Sloan-Wilson-ebook/dp/B0C3GCWVMQ  Email: mailto:hello@prosocial.world  

The Polyvagal Theory has revolutionized my practice and at a recent seminar in Atlanta, I shared my latest thoughts and breakthroughs about it. Can't think of a health-related topic where the Polyvagal Theory doesn't in some way apply!

What do biology, religion, philosophy, and economics all have in common? Well, to some degree, they can all be grounded in the theory of evolution. David Sloan Wilson is a professor emeritus of biology and anthropology at Binghamton University at the State University of New York. He's written a slew of books on a wide range of topics, all dealing with evolution like, Unto Others: The Evolution and Psychology of Unselfish Behavior and Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives. David and Greg discuss how everything can be explained by evolution, why the last 50 years of science have been groundbreaking, and Darwinism's shifts over time. *unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.*Episode Quotes:What are the dominant narratives in the management field?42:34: So you have two things that are dominant narratives in the management field: laissez-faire and centralized planning, command and control planning, and neither one works. What does work is a process of managed cultural evolution. It's where we have a whole field of management that could not be more important for human affairs, which are suffering under these faulty ideas and just waiting for this in a series of essays or print conversations, this third wave, a managed process of cultural evolution... These two things don't work, and only one thing that can work emerges and is what practitioners typically converge on. So if you look at people that are not driven theoretically but have a lot of experience, they've typically become pragmatic cultural evolutionists. They try a bunch of stuff out. They have some systemic goal. They stick with what works, and then they repeat.On Darwin's impact on human understanding04:11: It is still the case that Darwin's theory of evolution is the unrivaled explanatory framework for all living processes. It is indeed true that nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution. Now, when we go to humans, the very concept that humans are not part of biology is weird, but there's a historical reason why this framework, for all of its explanatory scope within biology, was constricted and was not applied to humans, especially human cultural evolution, until the closing decades of the 20th century. But now, that is taking place.Does selfishness beat altruism in groups?20:57: All natural selection is based on relative fitness. It doesn't matter how well you survive and reproduce in absolute terms; only compared to other organisms in your vicinity. And because of relative fitness, any behavior or trait that is oriented towards the welfare of others or one's group as a whole has a disadvantage—an inherent disadvantage compared to a more self-serving trait. So, that's why selfishness beats altruism within groups.The Intersection of genes and symbols in shaping our worldview45:05: The concept of a symbotype is the cultural equivalent of your genes, both for your symbotype and your genotype. There's quite a bit of flexibility in the way you see the world and your genes; they actually provide you with a repertoire of behaviors. So, you respond to your environment, but it's a limited repertoire, and if you want to go beyond that repertoire, you need to change something. You need to change your genes; you need to change your symbols. So, to an extent, in order to change the way we see the world and act upon the world—in other words, what takes place on the outside, we must change what takes place on the inside.Show Links:Recommended Resources:On the Origin of Species by Charles DarwinNothing in Biology Makes Sense Except in the Light of Evolution by Theodosius DobzhanskyWhy is Economics not an Evolutionary Science by Thorstein VeblenWilliam JamesCharles Sanders PeirceHerbert SpencerSociobiology: The New Synthesis by E.O. WilsonAdaptation and Natural Selection by George C. WilliamsThe Selfish Gene by Richard DawkinsChaos: Making a New Science by James GleickThe Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley by Victor HwangElinor OstromGuest Profile:Faculty Profile at Binghamton UniversityProfessional WebsiteProSocial WorldHis Work:Unto Others: The Evolution and Psychology of Unselfish Behavior Darwin's Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of SocietyEvolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our LivesThis View of Life: Completing the Darwinian RevolutionThe Neighborhood Project: Using Evolution to Improve My City, One Block at a TimeDoes Altruism Exist?: Culture, Genes, and the Welfare of Others (Foundational Questions in Science)A Life Informed By Evolution: A Memoir Atlas hugged : the autobiography of John Galt III

Dr. David Sloan Wilson is a Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences and Anthropology at Binghamton University. Co-founder of the Evolution Institute and Prosocial World, Wilson is the author of Unto Others: The Evolution and Psychology of Unselfish Behavior,  Darwin's Cathedral: Evolution, Religion and the Nature of Society, Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives, This View of Life: Completing the Darwinian Revolution and  Atlas Hugged: The Autobiography of John Galt III. A self-described evolutionist, Wilson is perhaps best known in the scholarly world as the champion of multi-level selection theory. In this episode of Unsupervised Learning, Razib talks to Wilson about where multi-level selection theory is in 2023 and the progress made in the last five decades in understanding evolutionary processes through this pluralistic framework. This discussion is a sequel; in 2010, they discussed multi-level selection theory for bloggingheads.tv. Right off the bat, Wilson outlines his view that evolutionary theory has been too narrowly constrained within the straitjacket of the gene-centric view, which violates the spirit of Charles Darwin's more expansive original vision, where adaptation driven by selection was inclusive of both culture and biology. Razib and Wilson also observe the growth of the field of cultural evolution that applies a Darwinian framework to understanding the variation across human societies and discuss Wilson's early work on the adaptive value of religion in human societies. Wilson touches on the numerous fields in which he has been involved over the past few decades, from evolutionary psychology to revisionist economics. In keeping with attempting to apply his scholarship to the real world, Wilson's latest project is ProSocial World, a nonprofit that aims to “facilitate and inspire positive cultural change using evolutionary and behavioral science.” 

The word ‘prosocial' describes an orientation toward the welfare of others and society as a whole.  My guest today is David Sloan Wilson. David is an American evolutionary biologist and a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biological Sciences and Anthropology at Binghamton University. He is a son of the author Sloan Wilson, co-founder of the Evolution Institute, and co-founder of the recent spinoff nonprofit Prosocial World. In this episode, you'll hear about the following: Expanding Darwin's Theory of Evolution The fight or flight response while in groups and while we're alone Privatization of resources The Core Design Principles How to select enlightened behaviors to reach valued goals And much more! Thanks again for listening to the Humanitarian Entrepreneur podcast!  We're not in this alone.  We're a community and we're all in this together to help the planet. Don't forget to share this episode and leave us a review if you found it helpful. Enjoy my conversation with David!   In This Episode: [1:26] – We're introduced to our guest, David Sloan Wilson, and learn what it means to be one of the world's foremost evolutionary biologists.  [3:19] – What called David to create Evolution Institute and Prosocial World? [5:36] – We've always lived in a group context.  Here's what that has meant over the centuries for our species. [7:44] – David expands on how our brains interpret the fight or flight response while we're in a group and while we're alone.  [9:42] – This is how Prosocial World helps people get out of their turtle shell. [13:02] – David explains the tragedy of the commons. [15:22] – David lists the core design principles. [19:07] – We hear about the two pillars of Prosocial World. [20:22] – How to learn to be flexible in “approach and avoid” situations. [24:10] – What are the different ways that people interested in working with David can get a hold of him?  [25:55] – Tiffany wraps up the conversation.   Resources: To connect with Tiffany to solve problems or affect the kind of change you want: calendly.com/humanitarianentrepreneur   Website:https://humanitarian-entrepreneur.com    Does Altruism Exist?: Culture, Genes, and the Welfare of Others https://bookshop.org/a/54969/9780300219883   The Neighborhood Project:  Using Evolution to Improve My City, One Block at a Time https://bookshop.org/a/54969/9780316037679   This View of Life:  Completing the Darwinian Revolution https://bookshop.org/a/54969/9781101872819   Evolution for Everyone:  How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think about Our Lives https://bookshop.org/a/54969/9780385340922   Connect with David: Twitter: https://twitter.com/David_S_Wilson    David Sloan Wilson Archive: https://davidsloanwilson.world/ About: https://davidsloanwilson.world/about-david-sloan-wilson/ Evolution Institute Website: https://evolution-institute.org Prosocial World Website: https://www.prosocial.world   Contact:  hello@prosocial.world

In this episode of the podcast, we speak with David Sloan Wilson about cooperation—how it evolved in social beings, how culture and norms can support and disrupt it, and how to sustain it across different levels (community, industry, nation, etc).We discuss:- How David got interested in the evolution of positive or prosocial cultural change - The intellectual tradition of individualism - The idea of society as an organism - Why natural selection at the smallest scale is socially disruptive- The game of Monopoly as an illustration of multilevel selection theory- Polycentric governance in a nutshell- Archipelagos of knowledge- The spread of new norms, like those constituting the Me Too movement, online and off- Elinor Ostrum's Nobel Prize-winning core design principals of effective groups- How nations approximate Ostrum's core design principles- The problem with the invisible hand, neoliberal model of globalization- Changing norms in tight versus loose culturesDavid Sloan Wilson is SUNY Distinguished Professor of Biology and Anthropology at Binghamton University. He applies evolutionary theory to all aspects of humanity in addition to the rest of life, both in his own research and as director of EvoS, a unique campus-wide evolutionary studies program that recently received NSF funding to expand into a nationwide consortium. His books include Darwin's Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society, Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives, and The Neighborhood Project: Using Evolution to Improve My City, One Block at a Time and Does Altruism Exist? Culture, Genes, and the Welfare of Others.

In this episode of the podcast, we speak with David Sloan Wilson about cooperation—how it evolved in social beings, how culture and norms can support and disrupt it, and how to sustain it across different levels (community, industry, nation, etc).We discuss:- How David got interested in the evolution of positive or prosocial cultural change - The intellectual tradition of individualism - The idea of society as an organism - Why natural selection at the smallest scale is socially disruptive- The game of Monopoly as an illustration of multilevel selection theory- Polycentric governance in a nutshell- Archipelagos of knowledge- The spread of new norms, like those constituting the Me Too movement, online and off- Elinor Ostrum's Nobel Prize-winning core design principals of effective groups- How nations approximate Ostrum's core design principles- The problem with the invisible hand, neoliberal model of globalization- Changing norms in tight versus loose culturesDavid Sloan Wilson is SUNY Distinguished Professor of Biology and Anthropology at Binghamton University. He applies evolutionary theory to all aspects of humanity in addition to the rest of life, both in his own research and as director of EvoS, a unique campus-wide evolutionary studies program that recently received NSF funding to expand into a nationwide consortium. His books include Darwin's Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society, Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives, and The Neighborhood Project: Using Evolution to Improve My City, One Block at a Time and Does Altruism Exist? Culture, Genes, and the Welfare of Others.

------------------Support the channel------------ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thedissenter PayPal: paypal.me/thedissenter ------------------Follow me on--------------------- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedissenteryt/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheDissenterYT Dr. David Sloan Wilson is SUNY Distinguished Professor of Biology and Anthropology at Binghamton University. He applies evolutionary theory to all aspects of humanity in addition to the rest of life, both in his own research and as director of the Evolution Institute, a unique campus-wide evolutionary studies program that recently received NSF funding to expand into a nationwide consortium. His books include Darwin's Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society; Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives; The Neighborhood Project: Using Evolution to Improve My City, One Block at a Time and Does Altruism Exist? Culture, Genes, and the Welfare of Others; and a recently edited book, Evolution and Contextual Behavioral Science. In this episode, our conversation we focused initially on Evolutionary and Contextual Behavioral Science, the recently published book edited by Dr. David Sloan Wilson and Dr. Steven C. Hayes. We discuss what evolutionary theory brings to the table, and its shortcomings in dealing with behavior (human and non-human), and the contributions of Skinner, behaviorism and contextual science that have been mostly ignored by mainstream Psychology. We then talk about the extended evolutionary synthesis, and how Lamarckism might still have a saying in how evolution by natural selection works. Finally, we briefly talk about religion as a human construct, and what the New Atheist get wrong about it; and about group selection included in a multilevel selection process. Time Links: 01:05 Evolutionary and Contextual Behavioral Science 06:26 The work of B. F. Skinner 12:32 What contextual behavioral science adds to the cognitive picture of the human mind 20:51 Modularity of the human mind, innate and environmental mechanisms 31:24 Environment, development, and phenotypic plasticity 36:58 The extended evolutionary synthesis 43:36 Lamarckism, Darwinism, and the new synthesis 49:27 Religion as a human construct 1:01:01 About group selection 1:03:50 Follow Dr. Sloan Wilson's work! -- Follow Dr. Sloan Wilson's work: Faculty page: https://tinyurl.com/yadbq9sw The Evolution Institute: https://tinyurl.com/ycyo8d7w The View of Life Magazine: https://tinyurl.com/ybnrencj Evonomics: https://tinyurl.com/yaoayddq Twitter handle: @David_S_Wilson Evolution and Contextual Behavioral Science: https://tinyurl.com/y9pypu7w Darwin's Cathedral: https://tinyurl.com/y8rhbbw5 Upcoming book, This View of Life: https://tinyurl.com/y9lh54ct Other relevant links: Tinbergen's 4 Questions: https://tinyurl.com/y9ge5984 Skinner's Selection by Consequences: https://tinyurl.com/ybzetc3a The Adapted Mind: https://tinyurl.com/yay653pf Adaptive genetic variation and human evolutionary psychology:

Classical economics argues that the economy is an equilibrium system—that for every winner there must be a loser. In this episode, author and professor David Sloan Wilson joins Nick live on stage at Town Hall Seattle to argue that economies are actually evolutionary systems—and once we shed the winner-take-all philosophy that has dominated Econ 101 classes for a century, we can change economic policy for the better. David Sloan Wilson is an American evolutionary biologist, a Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences and Anthropology at Binghamton University, and co-founder of the Evolution Institute. In addition to his latest book ‘This View of Life: Completing the Darwinian Revolution’, he has also written ‘Darwin’s Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society’, and ‘Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin’s Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives’.  Twitter: @David_S_Wilson Further reading: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/246844/this-view-of-life-by-david-sloan-wilson/9781101870204/  http://evonomics.com/the-new-invisible-hand-david-sloan-wilson/ http://evonomics.com/complexity-economics-shows-us-that-laissez-faire-fail-nickhanauer/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

------------------Support the channel------------ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thedissenter SubscribeStar: https://www.subscribestar.com/the-dissenter PayPal: paypal.me/thedissenter ------------------Follow me on--------------------- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedissenteryt/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheDissenterYT Anchor (podcast): https://anchor.fm/thedissenter Dr. Anthony Biglan is a Senior Scientist at Oregon Research Institute and the Co-Director of the Promise Neighborhood Research Consortium. He has been conducting research on the development and prevention of child and adolescent problem behavior for the past several decades. His work has included studies of the risk and protective factors associated with tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use; high-risk sexual behavior; and antisocial behavior. He and colleagues at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences published a book summarizing the epidemiology, cost, etiology, prevention, and treatment of youth with multiple problems, called Helping Adolescents at Risk (2004). He is a former president of the Society for Prevention Research. He was a member of the Institute of Medicine Committee on Prevention. He's also the author of The Nurture Effect: How the Science of Human Behavior Can Improve Our Lives and Our World. In this episode, we focus on some of the main topics of Dr. Biglan's book, The Nurture Effect. We refer to the role of evolution in the behavioral sciences, and to aspects of the environment from families to schools and societies, and the negative effects of coercive environments. We also discuss specifically addictive behaviors involving tobacco, alcohol and drugs, risky sexual behavior, and anti-social behavior. In the latter part of the interview, we also talk about cultural evolution, psychological flexibility, and their relationship to the development of nurturing socities. -- Follow Dr. Biglan's work: Faculty page: https://bit.ly/2tPIbcv Articles of Researchgate: https://bit.ly/2XxKX3p Values To Action: https://bit.ly/2TfFi3J Evolving a More Nurturing Capitalism: https://bit.ly/2tOIrs7 Association for Contextual Behavioral Science: https://bit.ly/2NODclz Association for Behavior Analysis International: https://bit.ly/2mQqzHY Society for Prevention Research: https://bit.ly/1CiEXuR The Evolution Institute: https://bit.ly/1MmXlbv Books: The Nurture Effect: How the Science of Human Behavior Can Improve Our Lives and Our World: https://amzn.to/2EoRwwt Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives: https://amzn.to/2NGekvV This View of Life: Completing the Darwinian Revolution: https://amzn.to/2ECm0LA -- A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS: KARIN LIETZCKE, ANN BLANCHETTE, SCIMED, PER HELGE HAAKSTD LARSEN, LAU GUERREIRO, RUI BELEZA, MIGUEL ESTRADA, ANTÓNIO CUNHA, CHANTEL GELINAS, JIM FRANK, JERRY MULLER, FRANCIS FORD, HANS FREDRIK SUNDE, BRIAN RIVERA, ADRIANO ANDRADE, YEVHEN BODRENKO, SERGIU CODREANU, ADAM BJERRE, JUSTIN WATERS, AND ŁUKASZ STAFINIAK! A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY FIRST PRODUCER, Yzar Wehbe!

Evolution science and behavioral science both have strong theories that can help us understand humans in context, and yet, until now, the two fields have been mostly separate. In this episode, cross-posted from the podcast Psychologists Off The Clock, Dr. Steven Hayes and Dr. David Sloan Wilson share how they are collaborating to bridge this divide. They discuss their recent co-edited book, Evolution and Contextual Behavioral Science: An Integrated Framework for Understanding, Predicting, and Influencing Human Behavior (Context Press, 2018), and they explore about how taking an evolutionary view of humans can be helpful in daily life, and in psychotherapy practice. Dr. Steven C. Hayes is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada. An author of 44 books and nearly 600 scientific articles, he is especially known as a co-developer of “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy” or “ACT,” one of the most widely used and researched new methods of psychological intervention over the last 20 years. His popular book Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life has sold over a quarter million copies worldwide. Dr. Hayes has received several national awards, such as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, and is ranked among the top most cited psychologists in the word. Dr. David Sloan Wilson is an American evolutionary biologist and a Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences and Anthropology at Binghamton University, part of the State University of New York. He applies evolutionary theory to all aspects of humanity in addition to the rest of life. His numerous books include Darwin's Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society and Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives. Dr. Wilson publishes in anthropology, psychology, and philosophy journals in addition to his mainstream biological research, and is the Editor-in-Chief of Evolution: This View of Life. He started the Evolutionary Studies program at Binghamton University to unify diverse disciplines under the theory of evolution. Debbie Sorensen, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist practicing in Denver, Colorado and a co-host of the podcast Psychologists Off The Clock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Evolution science and behavioral science both have strong theories that can help us understand humans in context, and yet, until now, the two fields have been mostly separate. In this episode, cross-posted from the podcast Psychologists Off The Clock,  Dr. Steven Hayes and Dr. David Sloan Wilson share how they are collaborating to bridge this divide. They discuss their recent co-edited book, Evolution and Contextual Behavioral Science: An Integrated Framework for Understanding, Predicting, and Influencing Human Behavior (Context Press, 2018), and they explore about how taking an evolutionary view of humans can be helpful in daily life, and in psychotherapy practice. Dr. Steven C. Hayes is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada. An author of 44 books and nearly 600 scientific articles, he is especially known as a co-developer of “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy” or “ACT,” one of the most widely used and researched new methods of psychological intervention over the last 20 years. His popular book Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life has sold over a quarter million copies worldwide. Dr. Hayes has received several national awards, such as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, and is ranked among the top most cited psychologists in the word. Dr. David Sloan Wilson is an American evolutionary biologist and a Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences and Anthropology at Binghamton University, part of the State University of New York. He applies evolutionary theory to all aspects of humanity in addition to the rest of life. His numerous books include Darwin’s Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society and Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin’s Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives. Dr. Wilson publishes in anthropology, psychology, and philosophy journals in addition to his mainstream biological research, and is the Editor-in-Chief of Evolution: This View of Life. He started the Evolutionary Studies program at Binghamton University to unify diverse disciplines under the theory of evolution. Debbie Sorensen, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist practicing in Denver, Colorado and a co-host of the podcast Psychologists Off The Clock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Evolution science and behavioral science both have strong theories that can help us understand humans in context, and yet, until now, the two fields have been mostly separate. In this episode, cross-posted from the podcast Psychologists Off The Clock,  Dr. Steven Hayes and Dr. David Sloan Wilson share how they are collaborating to bridge this divide. They discuss their recent co-edited book, Evolution and Contextual Behavioral Science: An Integrated Framework for Understanding, Predicting, and Influencing Human Behavior (Context Press, 2018), and they explore about how taking an evolutionary view of humans can be helpful in daily life, and in psychotherapy practice. Dr. Steven C. Hayes is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada. An author of 44 books and nearly 600 scientific articles, he is especially known as a co-developer of “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy” or “ACT,” one of the most widely used and researched new methods of psychological intervention over the last 20 years. His popular book Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life has sold over a quarter million copies worldwide. Dr. Hayes has received several national awards, such as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, and is ranked among the top most cited psychologists in the word. Dr. David Sloan Wilson is an American evolutionary biologist and a Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences and Anthropology at Binghamton University, part of the State University of New York. He applies evolutionary theory to all aspects of humanity in addition to the rest of life. His numerous books include Darwin's Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society and Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin's Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives. Dr. Wilson publishes in anthropology, psychology, and philosophy journals in addition to his mainstream biological research, and is the Editor-in-Chief of Evolution: This View of Life. He started the Evolutionary Studies program at Binghamton University to unify diverse disciplines under the theory of evolution. Debbie Sorensen, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist practicing in Denver, Colorado and a co-host of the podcast Psychologists Off The Clock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/psychology

Evolution science and behavioral science both have strong theories that can help us understand humans in context, and yet, until now, the two fields have been mostly separate. In this episode, cross-posted from the podcast Psychologists Off The Clock,  Dr. Steven Hayes and Dr. David Sloan Wilson share how they are collaborating to bridge this divide. They discuss their recent co-edited book, Evolution and Contextual Behavioral Science: An Integrated Framework for Understanding, Predicting, and Influencing Human Behavior (Context Press, 2018), and they explore about how taking an evolutionary view of humans can be helpful in daily life, and in psychotherapy practice. Dr. Steven C. Hayes is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada. An author of 44 books and nearly 600 scientific articles, he is especially known as a co-developer of “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy” or “ACT,” one of the most widely used and researched new methods of psychological intervention over the last 20 years. His popular book Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life has sold over a quarter million copies worldwide. Dr. Hayes has received several national awards, such as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, and is ranked among the top most cited psychologists in the word. Dr. David Sloan Wilson is an American evolutionary biologist and a Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences and Anthropology at Binghamton University, part of the State University of New York. He applies evolutionary theory to all aspects of humanity in addition to the rest of life. His numerous books include Darwin’s Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society and Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin’s Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives. Dr. Wilson publishes in anthropology, psychology, and philosophy journals in addition to his mainstream biological research, and is the Editor-in-Chief of Evolution: This View of Life. He started the Evolutionary Studies program at Binghamton University to unify diverse disciplines under the theory of evolution. Debbie Sorensen, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist practicing in Denver, Colorado and a co-host of the podcast Psychologists Off The Clock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Evolution science and behavioral science both have strong theories that can help us understand humans in context, and yet, until now, the two fields have been mostly separate. In this episode, cross-posted from the podcast Psychologists Off The Clock,  Dr. Steven Hayes and Dr. David Sloan Wilson share how they are collaborating to bridge this divide. They discuss their recent co-edited book, Evolution and Contextual Behavioral Science: An Integrated Framework for Understanding, Predicting, and Influencing Human Behavior (Context Press, 2018), and they explore about how taking an evolutionary view of humans can be helpful in daily life, and in psychotherapy practice. Dr. Steven C. Hayes is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada. An author of 44 books and nearly 600 scientific articles, he is especially known as a co-developer of “Acceptance and Commitment Therapy” or “ACT,” one of the most widely used and researched new methods of psychological intervention over the last 20 years. His popular book Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life has sold over a quarter million copies worldwide. Dr. Hayes has received several national awards, such as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, and is ranked among the top most cited psychologists in the word. Dr. David Sloan Wilson is an American evolutionary biologist and a Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences and Anthropology at Binghamton University, part of the State University of New York. He applies evolutionary theory to all aspects of humanity in addition to the rest of life. His numerous books include Darwin’s Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society and Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin’s Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives. Dr. Wilson publishes in anthropology, psychology, and philosophy journals in addition to his mainstream biological research, and is the Editor-in-Chief of Evolution: This View of Life. He started the Evolutionary Studies program at Binghamton University to unify diverse disciplines under the theory of evolution. Debbie Sorensen, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist practicing in Denver, Colorado and a co-host of the podcast Psychologists Off The Clock. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Curious What Evolution And Behavioral Sciences Can Learn From Each Other? Wondering What Traits Make Humans Most Unique As A Species? Want To Hear Two “Big Picture" Thinkers Discuss Technology Use, Awe, And Altruism? Join Us In An Intellectually Rich Conversation With Evolutionary Scientist Dr. David Sloan Wilson And Behavioral Scientist Dr. Steven Hayes! Evolution science and behavioral science both have strong theories that can help us understand humans in context, and yet, until now, the two fields have been mostly separate. In this episode, Dr. Steven Hayes and Dr. David Sloan Wilson share how they are collaborating to bridge this divide. They discuss their recent co-edited book,Evolution and Contextual Behavioral Science: An Integrated Framework for Understanding, Predicting, and Influencing Human Behavior, and they explore about how taking an evolutionary view of humans can be helpful in daily life, and in psychotherapy practice. Dr. Steven C. Hayes is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Nevada. An author of 44 books and nearly 600 scientific articles, he is especially known as a co-developer of "Acceptance and Commitment Therapy" or “ACT,” one of the most widely used and researched new methods of psychological intervention over the last 20 years. His popular bookGet Out of Your Mind and Into Your Lifehas sold over a quarter million copies worldwide. Dr. Hayes has received several national awards, such as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy, and is ranked among the top most cited psychologists in the word. Dr. David Sloan Wilson is an American evolutionary biologist and a Distinguished Professor of Biological Sciences and Anthropology at Binghamton University, part of the State University of New York. He applies evolutionary theory to all aspects of humanity in addition to the rest of life. His numerous books include Darwin’s Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society, Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin’s Theory Can Change the Way We Think About Our Lives, andThis View of Life: Completing the Darwinian Revolution. Dr. Wilson publishes in anthropology, psychology, and philosophy journals in addition to his mainstream biological research, and is the Editor-in-Chief of Evolution: This View of Life. He started the Evolutionary Studies program at Binghamton University to unify diverse disciplines under the theory of evolution. Resources: Evolution and Contextual Behavioral Science: An Integrated Framework for Understanding, Predicting, and Influencing Human Behavior, Edited by David Sloan Wilson and Steven C. Hayes Steve Hayes on "Wowfulness"

Darwin had a problem with bees. Understanding how evolution might work at the level of individuals was easy. Have an individual whose genes give them an advantage in resisting disease or avoiding predators and on average they will breed more and pass on more of their genes to the next generation. But bees and other social insects weren’t so easy. Kamikaze-like, bees will dive in and sting you, their barbs getting stuck in you and die to save the hive. Of course, when a human being sacrifices their life to save their child, that’s easy enough for evolution to explain. By sacrificing your life for your child, you are helping to ensure that your genes are passed on. But the bee that stings you at a picnic, can’t have children because those bees are sterile. In the Origin of Species, Darwin referred to sterile subgroups as the "one special difficulty, which at first appeared to me insuperable, and actually fatal to my theory.” Nowadays, evolutionary biologists have no problem providing an explanation for this behavior. In fact, the problem is that they have two competing explanations with explanations not just for bees but for how evolution makes sense of religion. Biologists like Richard Dawkins and Jerry Coyne argue that the bee gives its life because by defending the hive it is helping to pass on the genes of its closely related hive mates. They deny that natural selection can operate at the level of groups and so large human social organizations (like religion) have no function. Biologists like EO Wilson and today’s guest David Sloan Wilson argue that selection can happen not only at the level of individuals but also at the level of groups. If that’s the case, then our groupishness (including religion) are useful. As you can imagine, the idea that religion could be on balance or even sometimes useful is something that people like Dawkins take issue with. The consequences of this rift are beautifully summed up in Jon Haidt’s Righteous Mind: "To Dennett and Dawkins, religions are sets of memes that have undergone Darwinian selection. Like biological traits, religions are heritable, they mutate, and there is selection among these mutations. The selection occurs not on the basis of the benefits religions confer upon individuals or groups but on the basis of their ability to survive and reproduce themselves. Some religions are better than others at hijacking the human mind, burrowing in deeply, and then getting themselves transmitted to the next generation of host minds. Dennett opens Breaking the Spell with the story of a tiny parasite that commandeers the brains of ants, causing them to climb to the tops of blades of grass, where they can more easily be eaten by grazing animals. The behavior is suicide for the ant, but it’s adaptive for the parasite, which requires the digestive system of a ruminant to reproduce itself. Dennett proposes that religions survive because , like those parasites, they make their hosts do things that are bad for themselves (e.g., suicide bombing) but good for the parasite (e.g., Islam). Dawkins similarly describes religions as viruses. Just as a cold virus makes its host sneeze to spread itself, successful religions make their hosts expend precious resources to spread the “infection.” These analogies have clear implications for social change. If religion is a virus or a parasite that exploits a set of cognitive by-products for its benefit, not ours, then we ought to rid ourselves of it. Scientists , humanists, and the small number of others who have escaped infection and are still able to reason must work together to break the spell, lift the delusion, and bring about the end of faith.” To be clear, Professor Wilson is not saying that religion is here to stay. He is saying that our tendency towards groupishness (including religion) is an outcome of evolution and that in thinking about religion we have to recognize that. Once you understand that perspective, you begin to see how science and religion can finally start talking to each other. Professor Wilson is president of the Evolution Institute (http://evolution-institute.org ) and SUNY Distinguished Professor at Binghamton University. His books include Darwin’s Cathedral: Evolution, Religion, and the Nature of Society, Evolution for Everyone: How Darwin’s Theory Can Change the Way we Think About Our Lives, and The Neighborhood Project: Using Evolution to Improve My City, One Block at a Time. His next book, titled Does Altruism Exist? will be published in 2015 by Yale University Press. The Books Professor Wilson mentioned were Complexity and the art of public policy by David Colander and Roland Kupers, Give and Take by Adam Grant and Evil Genes by Barbara Oakley.