In my years of diving into psychology and more recently, the biology of mental health, one concept has stood out: the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and actions are deeply rooted in our evolution.
It gets interesting when you consider that our bodies and minds haven’t quite kept up with the pace of the modern world. Understanding this helps debunk the notion that our quirks and challenges are all due to some inherent dysfunction or insanity. It’s more like our biology is playing catch-up with the times we’re living in.
There is a concept called ‘Evolutionary mismatch‘ which suggests that our biological adaptations, which evolved over thousands of years in response to the challenges of a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, may not be well-suited to the demands of the contemporary world. Some key points discussed in the literature include:
Mismatch with Diet:
- Evolutionary Diet vs. Modern Diet: Our ancestors had diets based on hunting and gathering, which included a variety of whole foods. Modern diets, often high in processed foods, sugars, and fats, can lead to health issues like obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases.
Sedentary Lifestyle:
- Evolutionary Activity Levels vs. Modern Sedentary Lifestyle: Our ancestors were constantly active, engaging in physical tasks for survival. In contrast, many people in the modern world lead sedentary lives, which can contribute to health problems such as obesity and related conditions.
Sleep Patterns:
- Circadian Mismatch: The modern lifestyle, with artificial lighting and screens, can disrupt natural circadian rhythms. This mismatch may contribute to sleep disorders and related health issues.
Stress:
- Chronic Stress: While stress was episodic in the ancestral environment, modern life often exposes individuals to chronic stress. This can have negative impacts on mental and physical health.
Social Environment:
- Social Structure Mismatch: Our evolutionary history involved living in small, close-knit communities. The shift to larger, often fragmented, societies may lead to challenges in mental health and social relationships.
Reproductive Mismatch:
- Reproductive Challenges: Evolutionary adaptations related to reproduction might not align well with modern family planning, fertility treatments, and societal changes in family structures.
Technology Impact:
- Technology and Cognitive Mismatch: The rapid development of technology may outpace our cognitive adaptations, leading to challenges such as information overload, attention deficits, and mental health issues.
Environmental Toxins:
- Exposure to Novel Toxins: Our ancestors were not exposed to many of the synthetic chemicals and pollutants present in the modern environment. Some researchers argue that this exposure may contribute to health problems.
Microbiome Mismatch:
- Hygiene Hypothesis: The modern obsession with cleanliness and the use of antibiotics may negatively impact our microbiome, potentially contributing to immune system issues.
In my view, there’s a need for a shift in modern mental health approaches. I believe that practitioners, doctors, educators, and parents should return to foundational principles. Let’s consider how our contemporary lifestyle disrupts our natural equilibrium.
References
Li, N. P., van Vugt, M., & Colarelli, S. M. (2018). The Evolutionary Mismatch Hypothesis: Implications for Psychological Science. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 27(1), 38-44. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721417731378
Melissa B Manus, Evolutionary mismatch, Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, Volume 2018, Issue 1, 2018, Pages 190–191, https://doi.org/10.1093/emph/eoy023
Sbarra, D. A., Briskin, J. L., & Slatcher, R. B. (2019). Smartphones and Close Relationships: The Case for an Evolutionary Mismatch. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 14(4), 596-618. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691619826535