evolutionary mismatch

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Bestselling author Michael Easter returns to The Drive to discuss his new book, Scarcity Brain. In this episode, Michael explores the evolutionary backdrop that molded human beings, a setting characterized by scarce food, limited information, and few possessions. He contrasts that with the modern era, marked by abundance and comfort, and the ensuing repercussions on our physical and mental well-being. Michael introduces the concept of the “scarcity loop,” a three-part behavior cycle which helps explain modern challenges such as overeating, addiction, gambling, and materialism, and offers practical strategies to break free from its cycle. The episode culminates in a thought-provoking exploration of happiness, drawing on Michael's experiences with monks and underscoring the value of boredom, exploration, and discomfort as transformative elements that elevate awareness, presence, and the will to live.

We discuss:

• Inspiration for Michael’s latest book, Scarcity Brain [2:15];
• Evolutionary adaptations to the scarcity of food contrasted with the modern obesity crisis [4:00];
• Lessons learned about diet and nutrition from living with hunter-gatherers [9:30];
• The impact of ultra-processed foods on energy balance [20:30];
• Michael’s experience with attempting the hunter-gatherer diet at home [27:30];
• The roots of excess: factors that contribute to overeating and the varied vulnerabilities among individuals [34:00];
• The scarcity loop: how components of the scarcity loop are illustrated in gambling and addiction [39:45];
• Using knowledge of the scarcity loop to break the cycle [50:45];
• The evolutionary drive to acquire material possessions [58:15];
• The benefits of boredom and value of exploration [1:07:00];
• The consequences of an attention economy driven by negativity bias [1:16:30];
• Navigating the world of endless information and the value in “slow information” [1:23:00];
• Defining happiness, and the downward trend in reports of happiness [1:33:00];
• Purpose, austerity, self-reliance and other missing elements of happiness gleaned from the study of monks [1:38:30];
• The value in uncomfortable activities that increase your awareness, presence, and will to live [1:48:45]; and
• More.

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I think it’s fair to say that human beings have got it pretty good. Compared to most of our evolutionary history we have never been richer, safer, or lived longer lives. Yet, despite that, more of us are struggling with our health than ever before. What’s going on? This is the question that my guest today has spent years trying to answer.

Dr Anders Hansen is a Swedish psychiatrist, a globally renowned speaker with his own TV series exploring the human brain and he is also the author of multiple bestselling books, including his latest two The Happiness Cure and The Attention Fix.

He believes we can start to understand the struggles of modern life by looking to the brain, where our emotions are created. The brain did not evolve for intelligence, creativity or even happiness. Its sole purpose is to help us survive and reproduce – to make it to tomorrow, alive. We have inherited the evolutionary defence mechanisms that kept our ancestors hyper alert, fearful, and able to evade danger.

The trouble is that modern life has evolved at a pace our genes and brains have been unable to match. So today, these incredible survival skills that once helped us, now show up as unwanted feelings like chronic anxiety, distractibility, an urge to overeat, under exercise and even gamble. We often see these as mental health failings – something broken that needs to be fixed, says Anders. But when you look at them through the lens of evolutionary psychology, these behaviours all start to make perfect sense.

We no longer live on the Savanna: we live in a world of abundance and super-stimulation – and, if we want to thrive, we need to work against our brains’ natural instincts.

Easier said than done? Perhaps, but this conversation contains some excellent practical advice to get you started.

Anders is someone who really wants all of us to learn how exactly our brains are wired -  so we can more easily understand ourselves and our daily behaviours. He is passionate, knowledgeable and a brilliant communicator. I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with him, I hope you enjoy listening.

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