Darwin's Subterranean World

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.

Anxiety

What Exactly Does Social-Emotional Mean?

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on May 12, 2023

Behavioral scientists often use the term "social-emotional." Here's what that term means and why it matters.

Behavioral scientists often use the term "social-emotional." Here's what that term means and why it matters.

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.

Evolutionary Psychology

5 Dark Facts About Life, Informed by Evolutionary Psychology

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on March 10, 2023

People lie, cheat, and steal. At times, life is full of treachery. The evolutionary perspective can help us understand why.

People lie, cheat, and steal. At times, life is full of treachery. The evolutionary perspective can help us understand why.

Therapy

The Mental Health Industry Transformation

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on March 2, 2023

Mental health issues have skyrocketed and there is a growing need for mental health professionals. Education on evolution can help.

Mental health issues have skyrocketed and there is a growing need for mental health professionals. Education on evolution can help.

Relationships

The Power of Mutual Love

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on February 16, 2023

... and 7 questions to determine if you've found it.

... and 7 questions to determine if you've found it.

Education

5 Ways the Rich Are Buffered From Evolutionary Mismatch

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on February 10, 2023

Across all spheres of life, we run into evolutionary mismatch. Wealth consistently provides a buffer. From a social-inequality perspective, this is a problem.

Across all spheres of life, we run into evolutionary mismatch. Wealth consistently provides a buffer. From a social-inequality perspective, this is a problem.

Cross-Cultural Psychology

An Evolutionary Perspective on Cancel Culture

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on January 25, 2023

It's easy for someone to be "canceled" today. An evolutionary perspective helps us see how this large-scale estrangement can create pain.

It's easy for someone to be "canceled" today. An evolutionary perspective helps us see how this large-scale estrangement can create pain.

Ghosting

Why Ghosting Is So Bad for Our Mental Health

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on January 20, 2023

Ghosting leads to lots of hurt. And these days, it is all too easy to do. Here's an evolutionary perspective on why ghosting is so problematic.

Ghosting leads to lots of hurt. And these days, it is all too easy to do. Here's an evolutionary perspective on why ghosting is so problematic.

Artificial Intelligence

ChatGPT, Artificial Intelligence, and the Future of Writing

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on January 6, 2023

ChatGPT and other AI-assisted software are capable of writing coherent, original essays on any topic of any length, in any style. From an educator's perspective, this is a problem.

ChatGPT and other AI-assisted software are capable of writing coherent, original essays on any topic of any length, in any style. From an educator's perspective, this is a problem.

Parenting

Why "Don't Be So Sensitive" Doesn't Work

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on December 19, 2022

Parenting is a difficult sphere of life to navigate partly because we must teach our kids important values while validating their feelings at the same time.

Parenting is a difficult sphere of life to navigate partly because we must teach our kids important values while validating their feelings at the same time.

Relationships

Love as Teamwork

Glenn Geher Ph.D. on November 28, 2022

In intimate relationships, we can focus on what is best for ourselves or what is best for the relationship. In loving partnerships, true teamwork tends to prevail.

In intimate relationships, we can focus on what is best for ourselves or what is best for the relationship. In loving partnerships, true teamwork tends to prevail.