Using Wakefield's Harmful Dysfunction Analysis to Distinguish Different Types of Evolutionary Mismatch

Abstract: Evolutionary mismatch is a versatile concept used across fields, denoting that our evolved biology may be poorly suited to aspects of modern environments. In evolutionary psychiatry, it has become a key explanatory principle for the prevalence of psychiatric conditions in modern populations. However, some authors regard the concept as vague and in need of philosophical clarification. We introduce a novel distinction derived from Wakefield's harmful dysfunction analysis: dysfunctional trait evolutionary mismatch, representing true disorders, and functional trait evolutionary mismatch, which do not. We further identify the possibilities of latent dysfunctional mismatch, where previously harmless dysfunctions become harmful in modern contexts, and attenuated-harmful dysfunction, where previous harm has been neutralized by modern environmental change. Recognizing these distinctions can improve disorder classification, and may provide the basis for improved prevention and treatment.