Sickness & Biocultural Anthropology w/ Eric Shattuck

On this episode of AnthroPuzzled, we speak with Dr. Eric Shattuck, Assistant Professor of Biological Anthropology at Florida State University. Initially drawn to cultural anthropology, Eric discovered his passion for evolutionary medicine and the ways pathogens can influence host behavior. Today, his teaching and research explore human variation, adaptability, and especially the social dimensions of health and disease. Eric's work in social immunology examines how culture and social connections shape immune function and responses to illness. He discusses how social interaction can both strengthen immune health and facilitate disease spread, insights that underscore the complex ties between human behavior and infection. We also explore presenteeism, why people go to work while sick, how COVID-19 has reshaped attitudes toward illness, and how cultural norms around sick leave differ across societies. Tune in to learn how anthropology sheds light on the spread of infectious disease and our collective well-being.