Disconnected

Examines the clash between our ancient neural systems and the demands of modern life and its impact on mental resilience.

Disconnected reveals how modern life clashes with ancient neural systems shaped for cooperation and belonging. Combining evolutionary theory with psychiatry and anthropology, Dr Paul Keedwell offers fresh insight into today's psychological distress and proposes community-based, values-driven solutions in an increasingly disconnected world.Disconnected explores a powerful idea, that our modern world is fundamentally at odds with the brains we inherited from our hunter-gatherer ancestors. Drawing on evolutionary theory, psychiatry, and anthropology, Dr Paul Keedwell argues that the tight-knit, cooperative groups that once shaped our instincts fostered extraordinary mental resilience. Today's culture, on the other hand, driven by competition, individualism, and artificial rewards, overwhelms ancient neural systems designed for belonging, purpose, and shared responsibility. Offering a fresh lens for mental health professionals, students, and anyone seeking deeper insight into modern psychological distress, this book explores practical, culture-shifting solutions from neighbourhood cohesion and communal living to alloparenting and valuing intrinsic esteem over external validation. Disconnected ultimately reveals why prevention may matter more than treatment, and how re-aligning our priorities with our evolutionary heritage could help reduce the global burden of mental illness for future generations.