Abstract
Evolutionary medicine offers the insight that many unpleasant conditions such as physical pain are not harmful in themselves, but are evolved mechanisms to mitigate harm. A major goal of the field is to distinguish illnesses from aversive conditions that are evolved defenses. There are numerous evolutionary theories of depression, but many fail to account for the central role of conflict and cannot explain suicidality. This chapter reviews evidence from Western and non-Western societies that depression is caused by adversity, conflict, and powerlessness. The most parsimonious theory is that depression evolved, in part, as a form of psychological pain that functions to mitigate harm, credibly signal need, and coerce help when the powerless are in conflicts with powerful others.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | The Oxford Handbook of Evolution and the Emotions |
Editors | Laith Al-Shawaf, Todd K. Shackelford |
Publisher | The Oxford University Press |
Chapter | 59 |
Pages | 1134-1171 |
Number of pages | 38 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780197544785 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780197544754 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2024 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© Oxford University Press 2024. All rights reserved.
Keywords
- Cross-cultural
- Depression
- Evolutionary medicine
- Mental health
- Suicide