This talk will describe how we can evolve more nurturing societies. The human and biological sciences have converged in recent years in showing that individuals and human groups are most likely to thrive in nurturing conditions. Nurturing environments minimize toxic biological and social conditions, richly reinforce diverse forms of prosocial behaviour, limit influences, and opportunities for antisocial or unhealthful behaviour, and promote psychological flexibility, which involves mindfully acting in the service of one’s values.

Considerable research has shown how we can create these conditions. The talk will review what we know about the development of antisocial behaviour and antisocial groups. It will then describe family, school, and community programs and policies that foster prosocial development. Finally, it will describe the growing movement to promote prosociality around the world.

Many people use words such as “evolve” and “adapt” to talk about personal and cultural change but few think to consult the actual science of change–evolutionary science. This is largely because the study of evolution was confined to genetic evolution for most of the 20th century, relegating the study of personal and cultural change to other disciplines which developed largely in isolation from each other and sometimes in perceived opposition to evolutionary theory. The result is an archipelago of knowledge and practice, which lacks the integration that evolutionary theory is in a position to provide. I will describe what it means to say “nothing about X makes sense except in the light of evolution”, where X can be “biology”, “humanity”, “culture”, and “policy”.

Research is showing the psychedelics increase neuroplasticity, mindful behaviour and psychological flexibility considerably. According to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), these latter are pivotal to behaviour change. In addition, many leading researchers and clinicians have singled out ACT to be the most appropriate evidence-based therapy to inform and develop a modern psychedelic therapy because its processes happen to mirror and reinforce what psychedelic participants naturally experience.

This talk will detail a number of case studies of dramatic behaviour change following a psychedelic experience that was supported with ACT. These include successful treatments of social anxiety, long term childhood trauma and family issues, detailing participant accounts and day-to-day changes in psychological flexibility. The presentation will detail precisely how an ACT-consistent therapeutic intervention can be tailored to deepen and build on the life changing effects of psychedelics, and highlight challenges a psychedelic therapist may need to prepare for. The session will also offer some experiential exercises for taking new perspectives on the self or ego for behaviour change. We will also consider the broader systemic implications of new thresholds of psychological flexibility for cultural change.