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Evolutionary explanations for mental disorders from "summary" of Evolutionary Psychology by David Buss
Evolutionary psychologists have proposed that mental disorders may have roots in our evolutionary history. According to this perspective, certain mental disorders may have been adaptive in the ancestral environment, but have become maladaptive in the modern world. For example, anxiety disorders such as panic attacks may have been beneficial for our ancestors in situations of danger, helping them to react quickly and avoid potential threats. However, in today's world where such threats are less common, these same anxiety responses can become excessive and debilitating. Similarly, depression may have had adaptive functions in the past, such as conserving energy during times of scarcity or signaling submission to more dominant individuals in social hierarchies. However, in contemporary society where food and resources are more abundant, and social structures are more complex, these same depressive symptoms can interfere with daily functioning and lead to significant distress. Evolutionary explanations for mental disorders also suggest that certain disorders may be byproducts of adapta...
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