title: Evolution and social epidemiology.
abstract: Evolutionary biology, which aims to explain the dynamic process of shaping the diversity of life, has not yet significantly affected thinking in social epidemiology. Current challenges in social epidemiology include understanding how social exposures can affect our biology, explaining the dynamics of society and health, and designing better interventions that are mindful of the impact of exposures during critical periods. I review how evolutionary concepts and tools, such as fitness gradient in cultural evolution, evolutionary game theory, and contemporary evolution in cancer, can provide helpful insights regarding social epidemiology.
authors: Yale Institute for Network Science, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Sociology, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA. Electronic address: akihiro.nishi@yale.edu.
authors: Akihiro
authors: A
authors: Nishi
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D003468:Cultural Evolution; D005716:Game Theory; D006801:Humans; D012923:Social Class; D066269:Social Theory
keywords: Cultural evolution; Evolutionary biology; Intervention planning; Social epidemiology