Psychopathology or Adaptation? Genetic and Evolutionary Perspectives
on Individual Differences and Psychopathology
CHARLES CRAWFORD & CATHRINE SALMON
Neuroendocrinology Letters,2002; 23(suppl 4):39-45
A greater understanding of psychopathology will be found in the
integration of genetic and evolutionary perspectives on adaptation
and function. Evolutionary theory proposes that adaptive traits are
reproduced more successfully than maladaptive ones. However, some
traits, while contributing to fitness in the ancestral environment,
may contribute to fitness no longer. This is known as mismatch
theory. Evolutionarily informed research into various
"pathologies" has yielded interesting results, some based on
this theory. This paper serves to distinguish between genetic and
evolutionary perspectives on psychopathology as well as to examine
some recent research on the selective forces that may be implicated
in psychopathy, anorexic behavior, and ADHD. We suggest that
research into psychopathy in general would benefit from an
evolutionary perspective and an examination of the assumptions
behind past research.
http://www.nel.edu/23_s4/NEL231002R04_Crawford.htm