Evolutionary Foundations of Developmental Psychopathology

Abstract

In this chapter we situate developmental psychopathology in an evolutionary perspective and demonstrate how the discipline can benefit by embracing modern biological theory. We begin by presenting the integrative approach of evolutionary‐developmental psychology and exploring the interplay between adaptation and maladaptation in the origin of disorders. We then review a host of recent theoretical developments that address the organization of individual differences, the nature of environmental risk, the role of early stress, the nature of gene–environment interactions, the classification of mental disorders, and many other critical issues. Together, these contributions paint the contours of an integrative theory of human development and provide a sophisticated evolutionary foundation for developmental psychopathology. We aim to show that, far from undermining the tenets of developmental psychopathology, the evolutionary framework we describe supports all its core principles while also extending them, clarifying their underlying logic, and connecting them at a deeper level than previously possible.

Evolutionary Roots of the Sex Difference in the Prevalence of Severe Anti-social Behavior: A Literature Review

“…In other words, evolutionarily adaptive psychological mechanisms may yield maladaptive outcomes (i.e., mental disorder) at an individual level even when the mechanisms are functioning "normally" from an evolutionary perspective. 3,9 This is theorized to happen in four ways. 3,9 First, evolutionarily adaptive traits may increase vulnerability to dysfunction.…”

“…8 The paper will begin by briefly presenting the two cornerstone concepts of Darwinian evolution, natural selection and adaptation, that are essential for understanding the application of evolutionary theory to the study of psychopathology. 3 It will then draw upon Del Giudice's life-history framework for explaining the ultimate causes of the massive sex difference in the severest forms of anti-social behavior. 3,[9][10][11] …”

“…3 It will then draw upon Del Giudice's life-history framework for explaining the ultimate causes of the massive sex difference in the severest forms of anti-social behavior. 3,[9][10][11] …”

“…2 The explanation of this massive sex difference from the perspective of evolutionary developmental psychopathology (EDP) takes two forms: proximate and ultimate. 3 EDP is a branch of evolutionary psychology which is commonly defined as the application of the principles of Darwinian evolution to explain contemporary human behaviors and psychological traits. 3 Proximate explanations focus on present processes/causes of how a behavior or organism functions.…”

“…3 EDP is a branch of evolutionary psychology which is commonly defined as the application of the principles of Darwinian evolution to explain contemporary human behaviors and psychological traits. 3 Proximate explanations focus on present processes/causes of how a behavior or organism functions. Ultimate explanations focus on the past evolutionary forces that helped shape the proximate processes.…”