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Episode 82: Ed Hagen - The Evolutionary Basis of Mental Illness

Jul 7, 2023

Ed Hagen, a professor of anthropology, discusses the evolutionary reasons for anxiety and depression, highlighting the correlation between grip strength and depression, hypervigilance and anxiety, and the differences in suicide rates between men and women. He challenges the common view of psychological ill-health as a chemical imbalance and encourages a deeper understanding using an evolutionary lens.

59:42

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Ed Hagen

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Quick takeaways

Depression is often intertwined with genuine hardships and signals a threat to one's biological fitness, challenging the chemical imbalance model of mental health.

Psychological pain, such as sadness and low mood, serves as an indicator of real-life adversity and the need to address and resolve problems.

Depression often arises from conflicts with partners, family members, or society at large, highlighting the importance of addressing these conflicts rather than suppressing symptoms.

Deep dives

Evolutionary Reasons for Anxiety and Depression

Ed Hagen, a professor of anthropology, discusses the evolutionary reasons for anxiety and depression, highlighting their connections to social conflict and the need for problem-solving. He suggests that depression is often intertwined with genuine hardships and signals a threat to one's biological fitness. Hagen challenges the chemical imbalance model and encourages a more comprehensive understanding of psychological ill health. He emphasizes the importance of looking beyond pill-based solutions and suggests using an evolutionary lens to address unnecessary suffering.

Introduction

2min

The Origin and Development of Evolutionary Psychology

19min

The Power of Adverse Moments and a Mother's Love

3min

Anxiety, Depression, and Social Conflict

26min

The Power Dynamics and Influence of Suicidal Threats in Family Conflicts

2min

Exploring the Concept of Social Fitness and its Impact on Mental Health

3min

Preventing Adversity and Conflict for Better Mental Health

4min

Ed Hagen is a professor of anthropology at Washington State University Vancouver. During our conversation, Ed talks about the evolutionary reasons for two of humanity's most common mental illnesses: anxiety and depression. He also talks about psychic pain, the correlation between grip strength and depression, hypervigilance and anxiety, differences in suicide rates between men and women, and suicide attempts being an "honest signal of need."

Ed has noted that depression is commonly "intertwined with social conflict" and is a legitimate indication of a threat to one's biological fitness. Millions suffer every day from a poor or an intolerable psychological state. Ed's work and his original ideas are a potential corrective to the common view that psychological ill-health is due primarily to a "chemical imbalance." He encourages us to look deeper, to take a more comprehensive look, and to use an evolutionary lens to begin to try to both understand and help alleviate unnecessary suffering.

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(00:00) Intro

(02:13) Ed's interest in evolutionary psychology