Dr. Randolph M. Nesse investigates evolutionary explanations for traits that leave bodies vulnerable to disease. In particular, he studies how selection shapes mechanisms that regulate defenses, especially negative emotions. He is also committed to developing organizational and educational resources for evoltionary medicine.
Before coming to ASU in 2014 Nesse had a long career at the University of Michigan, in the Department of Psychiatry, the Department of Psychology and the Institute for Social Research. He directed the Evolution and Human Adaptation Program there for many years.
He is the Founding Director of the ASU Center for Evolution & Medicine. Center initiatives include producing research that demonstrates the power of evolutionary biology to address problems in medicine and public health, developing new courses, and holding conferences and workshops. Nesse teaches courses in evolution and medicine, as well as evolution and mental health.n
His new book, Good Reasons for Bad Feelings: Insights from the Frontier of Evolutionary Psychiatry uses many case studeis and the principles of evolutionary medicine to suggest ways to advance psychiatric research and treatment.
BA, 1970 Carleton College
MD, 1974, University of Michigan Medical School
Evolutionary applications to medicine and public health.
Signal detection theory applied to the evolution of mechanisms that regulate defense expression.
Th eevolutionary functions and regualtion of emotions, especially negative emotions like anxiety and depression
The origins of altruism, especially via social selection.
Evolutionary psychiatry and the origins of mental illness.
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Spring 2021 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
Fall 2020 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 492 | Honors Directed Study |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
Spring 2020 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
Fall 2019 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 492 | Honors Directed Study |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
Spring 2019 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 493 | Honors Thesis |
PSY 494 | Special Topics |
ASM 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
PSY 598 | Special Topics |
BIO 598 | Special Topics |
ASM 598 | Special Topics |
Fall 2018 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 492 | Honors Directed Study |
Spring 2018 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
ASB 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
BIO 591 | Seminar |
ASB 591 | Seminar |
Fall 2017 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
BIO 189 | Life Sciences Career Paths |
Spring 2017 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
ASM 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 494 | Special Topics |
PSY 494 | Special Topics |
BIO 495 | Undergraduate Research |
PSY 598 | Special Topics |
BIO 598 | Special Topics |
Fall 2016 | |
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Course Number | Course Title |
ASM 790 | Reading and Conference |