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The Evolutionary Mismatch: How Technology Disrupts Human Happiness with Dr Mike Brooks
Manage episode 499406698 series 3669814
What happens when our ancient brains collide with modern technology? Dr. Mike Brooks, psychologist and author of "Tech Generation: Raising Balanced Kids in a Hyper-Connected World," delivers a profound exploration of why we're struggling in a digital world that feels normal but is anything but.
Brooks introduces the concept of "accelerating evolutionary mismatch"—the growing gap between our evolutionary heritage and our modern environment. With humans now spending 50-70% of waking hours staring at screens (compared to zero throughout most of human history), our brains are essentially "screaming monkeys" overwhelmed by stimuli they never evolved to process. This mismatch manifests as rising rates of depression, anxiety, loneliness, and tribalism.
The conversation takes a fascinating turn when Brooks identifies the five foundations of human happiness—quality sleep, physical movement, good nutrition, time in nature, and in-person social interaction—elements we're systematically deprioritizing in our screen-dominated lives. "We've forgotten who we are," Brooks argues, as he shares how our suffering serves as a message that we're living incongruently with what truly makes us happy.
Perhaps most surprisingly, Brooks sees artificial intelligence not as exacerbating our problems but potentially helping solve them. Through his work with AI models, he's developed what he calls "the one question to save humanity": How do we reshape our world to reconnect human beings with how we naturally thrive?
Whether you're concerned about technology's impact on mental health, curious about evolutionary psychology, or simply seeking deeper well-being in a digital age, this conversation offers profound insights into our shared human experience and a path toward greater alignment with our nature.
Guest Biography, Contact & Social Handles
Dr. Mike Brooks, PhD is a nationally recognized psychologist, author, and speaker passionate about the intersection of technology, mental health, and human happiness. Author of Tech Generation: Raising Balanced Kids in a Hyper-Connected World, Mike blends science, philosophy, and practical insight to help people understand and overcome what he calls the “evolutionary mismatch” — the gap between our ancient brains and our fast-paced, screen-saturated world. As founder of the One Unity Project, he advocates using technology and AI to bring people together, solve collective challenges, and reconnect with how we naturally thrive.
Name: Dr. Mike Brooks, PhD, PC
Title: Psychologist | Author | Speaker
Book: Tech Generation: Raising Balanced Kids in a Hyper-Connected World (Oxford University Press)
Website: https://www.drmikebrooks.com
- Blogs: https://www.drmikebrooks.com/blog
- Speaking & Guest Appearances: https://www.drmikebrooks.com/speaking-engagements
Social:
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-mike-brooks-b1164120/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/drmikebrooks
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TalkingWithTomorrow
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drmikebrooks
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drmikebrooks
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/psychologistdrmikebrooks
Chapters
1. Introduction to Dr. Mike Brooks (00:00:00)
2. The Evolutionary Mismatch Problem (00:08:41)
3. Five Foundations of Human Happiness (00:21:50)
4. Our Screen-Based Existence (00:28:12)
5. Using AI as a Solution (00:34:52)
6. The One Question to Save Humanity (00:41:28)
33 episodes
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