In our modern-day society, mental illness is a major problem. This is especially true for men. Our current approach to mental illness is to treat it like a, well, illness.
A theory that has gained traction in recent years is the "evolutionary mismatch theory." The theory suggests that some mental disorders may be a result of adaptations that were once beneficial in our ancestral environments but have become maladaptive in our modern world.
The evolutionary mismatch theory is a perspective in the field of evolutionary psychology that posits that certain psychological traits or disorders may be maladaptive in our current environment, but were once advantageous in our ancestral past. The basic premise of this theory is that human beings evolved in an environment that was vastly different from the one we live in today. Our ancestors lived in small groups, were hunter-gatherers, and had to deal with various threats, such as predators or other hostile groups. They had to adapt to these challenges in order to survive and pass on their genes.
This hunter-gatherer past wasn't that long ago. Humans, in early form, have been around for a looooong time (our early ancestors used fire at least 1.7 million years ago.) We first started moving away from the hunter-gatherer life around the Neolithic period about 12,000 years ago, which was the result of agriculture. Our ancestors realized they could plant and harvest food instead of hunting and gathering food. That technology allowed humans to settle in one place, which started a trend towards villages, then towns, and eventually cities. Here in America, Native Americans existed mostly as hunter-gatherer tribes until Europeans arrived in the 16th and 17th Centuries. In short, our move away from our hunter-gatherer past is a tiny blip on the timeline of humanity.
The modern world we live in today is vastly different than that pre-agriculture world. We live in large cities, have sedentary lifestyles, and have to deal with complex social, economic, and existential threats. Our brains and bodies are still wired to handle the challenges of our ancestral past, but they are not well-suited to deal with the challenges of modern life. This mismatch between our evolved traits and our current environment may be responsible for a lot of known psychological disorders.
Researchers and Theorists
Several researchers and theorists have contributed to the evolutionary mismatch theory. One of the most ardent promoters of this idea is Randolph Nesse, a professor of psychology at Arizona State University. In his book "Why We Get Sick: The New Science of Darwinian Medicine," Nesse argues that many common health problems, such as allergies, anxiety, and depression, are due to a mismatch between our evolved traits and our modern environment.
I learned this first-hand when visiting my local farmer's market. An old man was selling local honey, which he claimed helped treat allergies. The idea is the bees made the honey from local flora, which contains traces of the allergens that trigger people' allergies. Eating the honey basically trains our immune systems to not react to the various allergens blowing around.
Other notable researchers and theorists who have contributed to the evolutionary mismatch theory include Leda Cosmides, John Tooby, and Stephen Pinker.
On the surface, this theory seems a little wacky... until you start to consider the common advice psychologists, psychiatrists, and other doctors give to people afflicted with various disorders:
- Spend time in nature.
- Exercise more.
- Eat a better diet of less processed foods.
- Get more high-quality sleep.
- Meditate for mindfulness and spend time in the moment.
- Connect with a small group of supportive people you trust.
Just like or ancestors.
Every professional offers that exact same advice for every single disorder as a first line of treatment. Every one of these pieces of advice replicate the experiences of our ancestors. If those steps don't solve the problem (or, more likely today, people just ignore the advice), other therapy or drug treatments may be used.
How I Stumbled Upon this Idea
Ultrarunning and barefoot running
I first discovered this concept by accident. Around 2006 or so, I was living in Allendale, Michigan (Go Lakers!), an area of the county that has over 200 days without sunshine due to Lake Michigan. It's like a permanent "marine layer" for my West Coast friends. I was suffering from pretty severe seasonal affective disorder. I found running long distances through the wooded trails had a near-miraculous effect - it made by SAD symptoms disappear. For a few days, anyway. In the summer, I found I got the same effect from running barefoot in the warmer months, too. There was something about the sensation of the ground under my feet that just made me feel good.
Fighting
A few years later, I was living in San Diego. Not being a city kid, I was under a fair amount of constant anxiety from the perpetual crowds of strangers and traffic synonymous with urban sprawl. I started training at an mma gym (shout out to my Fight Club peeps in San Diego!) and noticed the same "restorative" effect I got from mma, boxing, kickboxing, and jiu jitsu. The anxiety would disappear, sometimes for days.
"Man" Stuff
Finally, I started the Man Camp group, the precursor to The Ghost Dogs. I found when I embraced "masculine" behaviors, I got the same reduction in anxiety and depression symptoms. This effect was weird; it didn't always involve exercise or exposure to nature. To fully understand this effect, it's important to know I used to avoid 'manly" behaviors because I believed, as many modern men believe, that acting like a manly mad was bad. It led me to develop a tentative hypothesis:
We all have an innate baseline gender role, which is a combination of masculine and feminine traits. The more "live" this baseline, the happier and more fulfilled we feel, and the less mental health symptoms we experience.
This is a major reason so many men today struggle... society tells us it's bad to express who we really are. And it's killing our mental health. This, of course, is ironic because the people who most vilify masculinity (feminists, social justice warriors, far left radicals, weak, submissive, supplicating men who demand we "redefine" masculinity, etc.) universally accept and advocate for LGBTQ rights on the grounds uncommon sexual orientations (gay men, lesbian women, and bisexuals) and transgender folks are born that way. The obvious hypocrisy is lost on these folks.
At any rate, this idea that men experience anxiety, depression, and other psychological disorders because modern society vilifies our innate drive to engage in masculine behaviors is one of my motives for founding this group. A lone man who attempts to act like a man is easily beaten into submission. A gang of men? Not so much. There's power in numbers, especially when those numbers share a bond of Brotherhood.
Anyway, the Evolutionary Mismatch Theory can be applied to a wide range of psychological disorders.
Examples of Such Disorders
All kinds of disorders can be explained by the theory. More importantly, a lot of disorders can be effectively treated by using a logical solution that aligns with the evolutionary purpose of the disorder.
Anxiety: Anxiety may have evolved as an adaptive response to threats in our ancestral environment, such as predators or hostile groups. However, in our modern world, where the threats are less physical and more social or existential, this response can become excessive and debilitating. For example, social anxiety disorder, which affects millions of people worldwide, may be a result of our evolved tendency to be wary of strangers and unfamiliar situations.
Depression: Depression may have evolved as a way to conserve energy during times of scarcity. In our ancestral past, when food and resources were scarce, it made sense to conserve energy and reduce activity levels. However, in our modern world of abundance, this response can become maladaptive and lead to chronic feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. For example, major depressive disorder affects millions of people worldwide and is characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, loss of interest in activities, and difficulty concentrating.
Eating Disorders: Eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia may be a result of our evolved tendency to seek out high-calorie foods. In our ancestral environment, where food was scarce, it made sense to crave and hoard high-calorie foods to ensure survival during times of scarcity. However, in our modern world of abundance, this response can become maladaptive and lead to dangerous behaviors such as restricting food intake or bingeing and purging.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: OCD is characterized by repetitive thoughts and behaviors that are often irrational and interfere with daily functioning. While OCD can be a debilitating disorder, some experts have suggested that it may have evolved as a way to ensure cleanliness and prevent disease. In our ancestral environment, cleanliness was essential for survival, and individuals who were obsessive about cleanliness may have been more likely to survive and pass on their genes.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: PTSD is a disorder that can occur after exposure to a traumatic event, such as combat or sexual assault. While PTSD is a serious condition that can significantly impair functioning, some experts have suggested that it may have evolved as a way to prepare individuals for future threats. In our ancestral environment, exposure to trauma was common, and individuals who were able to anticipate and prepare for future threats may have been more likely to survive.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: ADHD is a disorder characterized by difficulty with attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. While ADHD can be a challenging disorder, some experts have suggested that it may have evolved as a way to enhance hunting and gathering abilities. In our ancestral environment, individuals who were able to quickly shift their attention and respond to changing circumstances may have been more successful hunters or gatherers. Since the 1990's, imagine how many boys we drugged with amphetamines because they couldn't sit through eight hours of boring classwork? Imagine how we could have avoided that cluter-fuck if we would have just changed our perspective?
Seasonal Affective Disorder: SAD, as I indicated earlier, is a type of depression that is associated with changes in the seasons, typically occurring in the winter months. While SAD can be a debilitating disorder, some experts have suggested that it may have evolved as a way to conserve energy during the winter months when food and resources were scarce. In our ancestral environment, individuals who were able to conserve energy during times of scarcity may have been more likely to survive.
Social Anxiety Disorder: The other SAD is a disorder characterized by intense fear or anxiety in social situations. While SAD can be a debilitating disorder, some experts have suggested that it may have evolved as a way to prevent individuals from engaging in behaviors that could have social consequences, such as being ostracized from the group. In our ancestral environment, social exclusion could have had serious consequences, including a loss of protection, resources, and potential mates.
Bipolar Disorder: Bipolar disorder is a disorder characterized by cycles of depression and mania. While bipolar disorder can be a challenging disorder, some experts have suggested that it may have evolved as a way to enhance creativity and problem-solving abilities. In our ancestral environment, individuals who were able to think creatively and come up with innovative solutions to problems may have been more successful hunters, gatherers, or leaders.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder: GAD is a disorder characterized by excessive worry or anxiety about a variety of different topics. While GAD can be a debilitating disorder, some experts have suggested that it may have evolved as a way to enhance vigilance and threat detection. This is kind of what I experienced when I lived in a city and was regularly surrounded by large groups of strangers. In our ancestral environment, individuals who were able to detect and respond to potential threats may have been more likely to survive.
Addiction: Addiction is a disorder characterized by compulsive drug-seeking behavior, despite negative consequences. While addiction is a complex disorder with many different causes, some experts have suggested that it may have evolved as a way to enhance reward processing and motivation. In our ancestral environment, the pursuit of rewards, such as food or mating opportunities, was essential for survival, and individuals who were more motivated to seek out rewards may have been more successful.
Notably, severe variations of these disorders, and organic mental disorders like schizophrenia, drug-induced psychosis, dementia, and some types of delirium are caused by actual brain malfunction and are not evolutionary adaptations. People experiencing significant mental illness need to seek medical interventions.
The Danger of Treating "Mental Illness" Like a Disease
"Pathologizing" mental illness means viewing it purely as a disorder or disease, rather than a natural response to a person's environment or life circumstances. While pathologizing mental illness has led to significant advances in the field of psychology and has helped reduce the stigma associated with mental health, there are some serious consequences and dangers to this "you have a disease" approach.
Firstly, pathologizing mental illness can lead to overdiagnosis and overtreatment, where individuals may be diagnosed with a disorder and receive treatment even if they do not actually need it. This can lead to unnecessary medicalization, stigma, and negative side effects associated with treatment, such as weight gain, drowsiness, or other physical symptoms. Overdiagnosis can also divert resources away from those who truly need them.
Secondly, pathologizing mental illness can reinforce a narrow view of what constitutes normal or healthy behavior. This can lead to individuals feeling like they are defective or broken, rather than recognizing that their behavior may be a natural response to their environment or circumstances. This can lead to a sense of shame and self-blame, and it can make it more difficult for individuals to seek help or reach out for support.
Thirdly, pathologizing mental illness can obscure the social and cultural factors that contribute to the development of psychological distress. This can lead to an overemphasis on individual factors, such as genetics or brain chemistry, while ignoring the broader social, economic, and political factors that contribute to mental health. This can make it more difficult to address the root causes of psychological distress, such as poverty, discrimination, or trauma.
When we shift our perspective and start looking at mental illness as an adaptive trait, several important things happen. We stop thinking we're broken. We also stop believing our mental illness is uncontrollable. Finally, we can assess what's really causing our mental illness.
So what's a good way to re-frame mental illness?
This is Your Superpower That Allows You to Contribute to Your Tribe
Back in our tribal hunter-gatherer days, our unique quirks allowed us to make a unique contribution to our tribe's survival. If we consider "mental illness" to be our unique quirk that allowed us to make a valuable contribution to those we care about, suddenly we see ourselves in a much different light. Your "mental illness" isn't an anchor around your neck dragging you to the depths of despair. Your "mental illness" is you Superpower.
Earlier, I noted I sometimes suffer from depression, often of the seasonal affective disorder type. It's characterized by two prominent symptoms - apathy and a muting of emotion. I tend to gravitate toward leadership roles. If I were in a hunter-gatherer tribe and I was a leader-type, the short days of the winter months would make me lazy (to conserve energy) and, given my emotional response was muted, better able to make difficult, emotionally-charged decisions about things like food distribution.
It's the same with the anxiety I experience in crowded environments. The evolutionary purpose is to make me hypervigilant to be temporarily better at observing and reacting to possible threats. If I were in a hunter-gatherer tribe, I'd likely play a "protection' role to guard the perimeter of the tribe. When I was exposed to a lot of strangers, it would be important to determine if any of the strangers were threats, which would be accomplished with the hypervigilance.
While that might always be super-useful in the modern world, explaining my S.A.D. and anxiety in that way frames it in a way that isn't really concerning. I don't obsess or fret over my lack of motivation or hypervigilance, I just ride it out knowing the symptoms will pass.
Or I can just go run around out in the forest on a sunny winter day, go to jiu jitsu class, or go out and accomplish a difficult goal.
Regardless, the Evolutionary Mismatch Theory can be a fantastic way to rethink mental illness. It's obviously not going to replace treatment for severe disorders, but it can be a life-changer for the vast majority of us.
If you try adopting this theory and it works for you, please share this post. It's probably one of the more important pieces I've written.
Thank you.
~Jason
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