Bjørn Grinde

Bjørn Grinde is a Norwegian biologist working in the fields of genetics and evolution, with particular interests in human evolution, happiness and consciousness.

Bjørn Grinde
Born (1952-07-03) 3 July 1952
EducationUniversity of Oslo

Early life and education

He studied in Michigan, USA, in 1969.[1]

He studied natural sciences as well as psychology and anthropology at the University of Oslo, resulting in a Dr.scient (1981) and a Dr.philos (1984) from the same university.

Work roles

Grinde worked as a scientist and professor at leading universities in Norway, USA, and Japan.

Presently he works as a chief scientist at the Division of Mental and Physical Health Norwegian Institute of Public Health.

Areas of interest and research

Molecular evolution

Some of his earlier projects focused on molecular evolution, using viruses as a model system.

Happiness

A prime interest has been to understand how evolution has shaped the human brain, and to use this knowledge of human behavioral biology (also referred to as evolutionary psychology) to improve health and quality of life. This approach argues that natural selection has shaped human behaviour and its neural substrate, and thus our emotional and rational systems are evolved to optimize hunting and gathering behaviour in small groups rather than to be economically rational in modern human life.[2]

Grinde has advanced a theory that happiness results from minimising experienced pain and maximising experienced pleasure. He advocates seeking happiness by methods including reducing the activity levels of 'punishment' systems in our brains, such as by self-talk to reduce anxiety.[3]

Grinde is not against hedonic pleasures like chocolate or alcohol, but argues that the empirical result is that these do not give long-term life happiness.[4][5]

He has published several books on this topic, including Darwinian Happiness (2002) and The Biology of Happiness (2012).

Consciousness

He has also focused on understanding what consciousness is about, and why we have this feature.

Personal

Grinde is married, with two children, and lives on the outskirts of Oslo.[6]

References
  1. "Utveksling i blodet".
  2. Watson, K. K.; Platt, M. L. (2008). "Neuroethology of reward and decision making". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences. 363 (1511): 3825–3835. doi:10.1098/rstb.2008.0159. PMC 2581784. PMID 18829427.
  3. "Wikispaces".
  4. "Dr. Bjorn Grinde ISQOLS Webinar connecting biology and happiness". 2017-12-19.
  5. "Chemical stimulants do not appear to be a good long-term strategy for contentment". p104, Darwinian Happiness.
  6. "Utveksling i blodet".

Selected books
  • Grinde B (2002/2012). Darwinian Happiness. Evolution as a Guide for Living and Understanding Human Behavior Darwin Press (translated to Italian in 2015)
  • Grinde B (2011). "God - A Scientific Update" Darwin Press
  • Grinde B (2012). "The Biology of Happiness" Springer
  • Grinde B (2015). "Improving the Human Zoo" Darwin Press
  • Grinde B (2016). The Evolution of Consciousness. Implications for Mental Health and Quality of Life" Springer
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