Verified by Psychology Today

Darwin's Subterranean World

Evolution, Mind, and Mating Intelligence

Evolutionary Psychology
The Evolutionary Psychology of Murphy's Law

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on April 24, 2024

Assuming the worst-case scenario can be unpleasant and problematic. But when you see this kind of thinking from an evolutionary lens, it actually makes a lot of sense. Here's why.

Assuming the worst-case scenario can be unpleasant and problematic. But when you see this kind of thinking from an evolutionary lens, it actually makes a lot of sense. Here's why.

Ethics and Morality
The Person-System Fallacy

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on February 4, 2024

The person/system fallacy occurs when we treat individuals based on system-based information, failing to recognize their individuality. This often leads to problems.

The person/system fallacy occurs when we treat individuals based on system-based information, failing to recognize their individuality. This often leads to problems.

Cognitive Dissonance
Why Do People Double Down?

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on January 22, 2024

When faced with information that goes against our beliefs, we often double down instead of changing our minds, to reduce cognitive dissonance. But it's problematic. Here's why.

When faced with information that goes against our beliefs, we often double down instead of changing our minds, to reduce cognitive dissonance. But it's problematic. Here's why.

Relationships
The Case for Love

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on January 9, 2024

Personal Perspective: In a high-profile article, Hill makes a case for not putting all your eggs in the basket of romantic love. Here is the other side.

Personal Perspective: In a high-profile article, Hill makes a case for not putting all your eggs in the basket of romantic love. Here is the other side.

Education
Discovering Natural Selection Was Like "Confessing a Murder"

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on December 12, 2023

In an act of self-censorship, Darwin sat on natural selection for decades. He knew that these ideas would permanently change our understanding of life. And, ultimately, they did.

In an act of self-censorship, Darwin sat on natural selection for decades. He knew that these ideas would permanently change our understanding of life. And, ultimately, they did.

Education
There's No Way I'm Publishing That!

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on December 5, 2023

Many scholars report that they engage in self-censorship, opting to not publish or study certain phenomena. Short-term outcomes may be benign. Long-term outcomes may be disastrous.

Many scholars report that they engage in self-censorship, opting to not publish or study certain phenomena. Short-term outcomes may be benign. Long-term outcomes may be disastrous.

Evolutionary Psychology
A Brief History of Evolutionary Psychology

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on November 12, 2023

Evolutionary psychology, the application of Darwinian principles to behavior, has roots back to Darwin's own work. Here's a brief timeline of the history of this important field.

Evolutionary psychology, the application of Darwinian principles to behavior, has roots back to Darwin's own work. Here's a brief timeline of the history of this important field.

Bias
The Israel/Palestine Crisis in Evolutionary Perspective

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on October 16, 2023

The Israeli/Palestinian Crisis is nothing short of a nightmare. Understanding our evolved ingroup/outgroup psychology can shed much light on this catastrophic situation.

The Israeli/Palestinian Crisis is nothing short of a nightmare. Understanding our evolved ingroup/outgroup psychology can shed much light on this catastrophic situation.

Personality
What Exactly Is Courage?

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on September 27, 2023

Courage is a universally valued trait. But what exactly is it? Recent research shows the psychological attributes that underlie the courageous personality.

Courage is a universally valued trait. But what exactly is it? Recent research shows the psychological attributes that underlie the courageous personality.

Empathy
I Truly Hear You: Empathy in Intimate Relationships

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on August 7, 2023

The ability to appreciate that others may feel differently about things than we do and to actually feel things as others do sits at the core of successful relationships.

The ability to appreciate that others may feel differently about things than we do and to actually feel things as others do sits at the core of successful relationships.

Personality
Yes, Your Personality Could Change as You Get Older

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on July 18, 2023

The question of whether personality is malleable across life is age-old. Data from decades of research suggests that, in fact, personality change is quite possible.

The question of whether personality is malleable across life is age-old. Data from decades of research suggests that, in fact, personality change is quite possible.

Education
Three Hurdles to Evolution Education

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on July 12, 2023

Darwin's remains are found in Westminster Abbey, alongside the likes of Queen Elizabeth I. In spite of being so respected, Darwin's ideas hardly make it into academia. Here's why.

Darwin's remains are found in Westminster Abbey, alongside the likes of Queen Elizabeth I. In spite of being so respected, Darwin's ideas hardly make it into academia. Here's why.

Marriage
To Have and to Hold

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on July 3, 2023

Even the most generic wedding vows can be profoundly beautiful and full of wisdom. Further, the guts of all wedding vows can be elucidated by applying an evolutionary lens.

Even the most generic wedding vows can be profoundly beautiful and full of wisdom. Further, the guts of all wedding vows can be elucidated by applying an evolutionary lens.

Self-Esteem
6 Tips and Reasons to Run a Marathon

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on May 9, 2023

Under ancestral conditions, humans often ran long distances out of necessity. These days, long-distance running is optional. Yet many of us partake. Here is what we get out of it.

Under ancestral conditions, humans often ran long distances out of necessity. These days, long-distance running is optional. Yet many of us partake. Here is what we get out of it.

Leadership
12 Lessons From 12 Marathons

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on May 8, 2023

Under ancestral conditions, long-distance running was a required part of life. These days, it is fully optional—yet many of us do it. Here's what we get out of going the distance.

Under ancestral conditions, long-distance running was a required part of life. These days, it is fully optional—yet many of us do it. Here's what we get out of going the distance.

Relationships
5 Things We Should All Try to Do Every Day

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on April 7, 2023

Life is hard. An evolutionary perspective on the human condition can help us think about what actually matters and help us build habits that can help us thrive.

Life is hard. An evolutionary perspective on the human condition can help us think about what actually matters and help us build habits that can help us thrive.

Cognition
The Social World Is Not as "Real" as the Physical World

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on March 31, 2023

People often treat social reality the same as physical reality. This social psychological tendency can actually be problematic across all kinds of relationships. Here's why.

People often treat social reality the same as physical reality. This social psychological tendency can actually be problematic across all kinds of relationships. Here's why.