To What Extent Can Evolutionary Theories Explain Mental Illness?

Abstract

Clinical psychology, the psychiatry field, and medical conditions all tend to ignore the role of evolution in them. However, the human brain is indeed a product of natural selection. Its complexity, including both normal functions and potential dysfunctions, has developed over evolutionary time under the process of natural selection. Evolutionary psychology provides guidance for psychologists today on how to think about individual differences in terms of psychopathology. Therefore, understanding the evolutionary origin of psychiatric conditions is a crucial component of a complete understanding of psychological illnesses and their etiology. This paper explores this idea of evolution with four examples of mental illnesses, depression, postpartum depression, agoraphobia, schizophrenia and autism.