UMH Lecture Series: dr. Willem Frankenhuis

The Centre for Urban Mental Health is organizing a series of open access lectures to highlight expertise and current thinking on complexity science and urban mental health.

At the Centre for Urban Mental Health, we aim to unravel new pathways to improve urban mental health that takes into account the complexities and dynamics of mental health problems and mental health disorders in an urban environment.

Hybrid setup

This is a hybrid lecture setup. You are encouraged to attend in-person at our offices in Central Amsterdam (limited spots available). Otherwise, online participation is always possible.

Schedule:

Lecture with dr. Willem Frankenhuis | October 30, 2024 | 16.00 - 17.00 CET

Presentation: 30 minutes

Q & A: 15 - 20 minutes

The Q & A session will be based on questions from the audience.

Title:

Cognitive adaptation to harsh and unpredictable environments

Abstract:

I will begin by conceptualizing evolution and development as nested processes operating on different timescales. Then I will argue that the human species has evolved the capacity to adjust to certain forms of childhood adversity — such as exposure to violence, resource insecurity, and low and inconsistent parental care — which are more prevalent in deprived neighborhoods than affluent ones. Such developmental adaptations may include hidden talents, abilities enhanced by adversity, and reasonable responses, decisions and behavior tailored to the demands of adverse environments. Understanding such adaptations promotes a well-rounded view of psychological functioning in adverse conditions. Such a balanced view has implications for education, policy, and intervention. Specifically, the better we understand stress-adapted cognition, including both vulnerabilities and strengths, the more effectively we can tailor education, jobs, and interventions to suit the needs and potentials of those affected. As a case study, I will highlight recent research on the effects of test content (e.g., money, faces, geometric shapes) on cognitive performance.

About:

Willem Frankenhuis is Associate Professor at the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics of the University of Amsterdam. He is also Senior Researcher at the Max Planck Institute for Research on Crime, Security and Law in Germany. Before his current position, he worked at Utrecht University (2020-2023) and Radboud University (2012-2020). He studies how people develop in harsh and unpredictable conditions. His empirical work focuses on ‘hidden talents’, abilities enhanced by adversity, and ‘reasonable responses’, decisions and behavior tailored to the demands of adverse environments. In his theoretical work, he uses mathematical modeling to understand how adaptive processes operating on different timescales—evolution, development, and learning—tailor individuals to their environments.

Host or Publisher The Centre for Urban Mental Health