Printable Handouts

PDF

Navigable Slide Index

1. Introduction
2. Describing depression
3. Diagnosis of depression
4. Effect of cultural differences
5. Causes of depression
6. Biological factors are relevant
7. Depression - illness of the emotions
8. The genetic component of depression
9. Evolutionary questions regarding depression (1)
10. Evolutionary questions regarding depression (2)
11. Social competition hypothesis
12. Potential causes for childhood depression
13. Possible function of low mood
14. Social navigation hypothesis
15. Emotions
16. Sadness (1)
17. Sadness (2)
18. Depression as a "malignant sadness"
19. Depression as a results of positive feedback loop
20. Seasonal affective depression (SAD)

Topics Covered

• Depression has a genetic component and can be triggered by stress
• It is a common mental illness
• Why has it not been selected out?
• Sadness is adaptive but depression is probably not
• Depression can be thought of as sadness becoming excessive and malignant

Links

Series:

• Evolution and Medicine

Categories:

• Neuroscience

Therapeutic Areas:

• Neurology

Talk Citation

Publication History

• Published on October 1, 2007
• Archived on August 31, 2016

Financial Disclosures

• Prof. Lewis Wolpert has not informed HSTalks of any commercial/financial relationship that it is appropriate to disclose.