Evolutionary Explanation of Shixophrenia
Psychological Topics 17 (2008), 2, 247-263 Original Scientific Article – UDC – 616.89-008.441.42 159.015.7
Evolutionary Explanations of Eating Disorders
Igor Kardum, Asmir Gračanin, Jasna Hudek-Knežević
University of Rijeka, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Department of Psychology
Abstract
This article reviews several most important evolutionary mechanisms that underlie eating disorders. The first part clarifies evolutionary foundations of mental disorders and various mechanisms leading to their development. In the second part selective pressures and evolved adaptations causing contemporary epidemic of obesity as well as differences in dietary regimes and life-style between modern humans and their ancestors are described. Concerning eating disorders, a number of current evolutionary explanations of anorexia nervosa are presented together with their main weaknesses. Evolutionary explanations of eating disorders based on the reproductive suppression hypothesis and its variants derived from kin selection theory and the model of parental manipulation were elaborated. The sexual competition hypothesis of eating disorder, adapted to flee famine hypothesis as well as explanation based on the concept of social attention holding power and the need to belonging were also explained. The importance of evolutionary theory in modern conceptualization and research of eating disorders is emphasized. Keywords: eating disorders, evolutionary theory, reproductive suppression, sexual competition
INTRODUCTION There is a disagreement among scientists about the basic definition of mental disorder, and usually discussions concerning its definition encompass the role of social values as well as the centrality and the necessity of the presence of failures in evolved adaptive mechanisms (Lilienfield & Marino, 1995; Wakefield, 1999, 2005). Evolutionary reasoning can help to discriminate between conditions of an
Igor Kardum, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Arts and Sciences,
Evolutionary Explanations of Eating Disorders
Igor Kardum, Asmir Gračanin, Jasna Hudek-Knežević
University of Rijeka, Faculty of Arts and Sciences Department of Psychology
Abstract
This article reviews several most important evolutionary mechanisms that underlie eating disorders. The first part clarifies evolutionary foundations of mental disorders and various mechanisms leading to their development. In the second part selective pressures and evolved adaptations causing contemporary epidemic of obesity as well as differences in dietary regimes and life-style between modern humans and their ancestors are described. Concerning eating disorders, a number of current evolutionary explanations of anorexia nervosa are presented together with their main weaknesses. Evolutionary explanations of eating disorders based on the reproductive suppression hypothesis and its variants derived from kin selection theory and the model of parental manipulation were elaborated. The sexual competition hypothesis of eating disorder, adapted to flee famine hypothesis as well as explanation based on the concept of social attention holding power and the need to belonging were also explained. The importance of evolutionary theory in modern conceptualization and research of eating disorders is emphasized. Keywords: eating disorders, evolutionary theory, reproductive suppression, sexual competition
INTRODUCTION There is a disagreement among scientists about the basic definition of mental disorder, and usually discussions concerning its definition encompass the role of social values as well as the centrality and the necessity of the presence of failures in evolved adaptive mechanisms (Lilienfield & Marino, 1995; Wakefield, 1999, 2005). Evolutionary reasoning can help to discriminate between conditions of an
Igor Kardum, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Arts and Sciences,
References: 259 PSYCHOLOGICAL TOPICS 17 (2008), 2, 247-263 Contaldo, F., Pasanisi, & F., Bellini, O 260 PSYCHOLOGICAL TOPICS 17 (2008), 2, 247-263 Hamilton, W.D 261 PSYCHOLOGICAL TOPICS 17 (2008), 2, 247-263 Pinel, J.P.J., Assanand, S., & Lehman, D.R 262 PSYCHOLOGICAL TOPICS 17 (2008), 2, 247-263 Wasser, S.K., & Barash, D.P PSYCHOLOGICAL TOPICS 17 (2008), 2, 247-263 prazna str