“the fittest may also be the gentlest, because survival often requires mutual help and cooperation’ (Dobzhansky, 1962).

Our page dedicated to PolyVagal Model ~ Adapting to social distancing ~ Developing relational intricacies includes articles and resources.

Here are a quote and list of section titles from a recent article by Stephen W. Porges.

QUOTING PORGES ON DOBZHANSKY

“the fittest may also be the gentlest, because survival often requires mutual help and cooperation’
(Dobzhansky, 1962). According to Dobzhansky, it
is this capacity to cooperate that enabled the earliest
mammalian species to survive in a hostile world
dominated by physically larger and potentially
aggressive reptiles. Although unaware of Dobzhansky’s
major contributions, the publication that introduced
Polyvagal Theory was titled “Orienting in a defensive
world: Mammalian modifications of our evolutionary
heritage. A Polyvagal Theory” (Porges, 1995). In
retrospect, the title was a tribute to Dobzhansky’s
insightful statement that “nothing in biology makes
sense except in the light of evolution” (Dobzhansky,
1973).” [emphasis added]
–– Stephen W. Porges, page 135 in Porges, S. W. (2020).
The COVID-19 Pandemic is a paradoxical challenge to our
nervous system, a Polyvagal Perspective.
Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 17(2),135-138.

SECTION TITLES FOR PORGES 2020
For our closer study, a list of section titles and references:
PDF Porges, S. W. (2020). The COVID-19 Pandemic is a paradoxical challenge to our nervous system, a Polyvagal Perspective. Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 17(2),135-138. (list of section titles)  
RTF Porges, S. W. (2020). The COVID-19 Pandemic is a paradoxical challenge to our nervous system, a Polyvagal Perspective. Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 17(2),135-138. (list of section titles)

REFERENCES – DOBZHANSKY
* Dobzhansky, T. (1962). Mankind evolving (pp. 150-152).
New Haven: Yale University Press.

* Dobzhansky, T. (1973). Nothing in biology makes sense
except in the light of evolution. The american biology
teacher, 35(3), 125-129.

* “Theodosius Grygorovych Dobzhansky was a prominent Russian-American geneticist and evolutionary biologist, and a central figure in the field of evolutionary biology for his work in shaping the modern synthesis.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodosius_Dobzhansky

* “Theodosius Dobzhansky, a Russian geneticist who moved to the United States, provided laboratory evidence for natural selection and variation where previously there had been only field observation. Dobzhansky’s work with Drosophila, or fruit flies, provided new evidence that supported Darwin’s theory that natural selection, acting on genetic variation in populations, is a driving force in evolution.” “Dobzhansky is remembered today not only for his strictly scientific ACHIEVEMENTS but also for his deep CONCERN about the possible misunderstanding and misuse by SOCIETY of the concepts of genetic variation.” [emphasis added] Credits: Courtesy of the American Museum of Natural History https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/06/2/l_062_04.html

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