evolutionary psych-lecture 6 anxiety related disorders 1

smoke detector principle

suggests that anxiety systems are designed to err on the side of caution

• explains why many anxiety responses seem disproportionate in modern contexts

why do we get false alarms (unnecessary anxiety)

they are less costly than failing to respond to real threats

evolution favours overly sensitive systems that maximized?

survival in dangerous environments

hypervigilance

an exaggerated state of sensory sensitivity to perceived threats

why did hypervigilance evolve?

to detect and respond to immediate danger in hostile environments

chronic hypervigilance can lead to?

fatigue and impaired decision-making

• now it contributes to the development of anxiety disorders

anxiety disorders encompass?

generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and phobias

anxiety is marked by

excessive worry, fear, or avoidance behaviour

evolutionary perspective suggests that anxiety reflects?

adaptive responses to perceived threats

why mismatch exists in anxiety?

our physiological stress systems evolved in environments with acute, short-term threats

in modern environment these are now chronic stressors which can dysregulate our response system

• persistent activation of the stress response may lead to disorders like GAD

phobias

often involve intense fear of evolutionarily relevant threats

• ex: snakes or spiders

likely conferred survival advantages by promoting avoidance of dangerous stim

phobias are more prevalent for ancestral threats more than modern hazards, what does this suggest

it underscores the evolutionary origins of certain anxiety disorders

panic attacks

involve sudden and intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms like palpitations

• may stem from a hypersensitive fight-or-flight system

why panic attacks useful in ancestral environment?

prepared individuals to escape predators

• misfiring in safe contests causes panic disorder symptoms

social anxiety

revolves around the fear of negative evaluation or rejection by others

why did social anxiety possibly evolve?

to promote group cohesion and minimize conflict within social hierarchies

what are hallmarks of social anxiety disorder?

excessive self-monitoring and avoidance of social risks

• overactivation of these mechanisms can impair relationships and career progression

PTSD

develops after exposure to life-threatening or traumatic events

• flashbacks and hypervigilance mirror adaptive responses to anticipate future danger

why PTSD good in past?

hyperarousal could enhance survival in high-risk settings

obsessive-compulsive disorder

•OCD is characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and ritualistic behaviours (compulsions)

what ancestral behaviours may explain OCD symptoms

grooming or checking

• excessive or repetitive performance of these behaviours leads to distress

OCD highlights

how adaptative mechanisms can become pathological through overactivation

evolutionary benefits of anxiety

• moderate lvls can increase attn to potential threats

• may promote problem-solving and careful planning in uncertain situations

  • heightened anxiety lvls might have been more likely to survive

excessive anxiety disrupts functioning which reveals what?

that there is balance between benefit and cost

anxiety involves what regions of the brain?

the amygdala and prefrontal cortex

•The amygdala processes fear and threat, while the prefrontal cortex regulates responses

what does does dysregulation and chronic overactivation of the prefrontal cortex and amygdala lead to

•Dysregulation of these systems can lead to heightened fear and avoidance behaviours.

•Chronic overactivation disrupts emotional regulation and cognitive function

What activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA)? What happens with prolonged activation

chronic stress activates, prolonged leads to elevated cortisol levels and anxiety symptoms

• beneficial for short-term use but harmful in modern contexts

what does stress0induced neuroinflammation may contribute to?

anxiety and comorbid conditions

what determines how anxiety is expressed and perceived

cultural norms shape this

ex:

•Collectivist societies may emphasize social harmony, increasing social anxiety risks.

•Individualistic cultures may increase performance-related anxiety.

what do cross-cultural studies highlight?

universal and culture-specific aspects of anxiety

who is more affected by anxiety and why is this?

women are more likely, part of this is because of hormonal factors

• fluctuations in estrogen may influence anxiety regulation

evolutionary theories suggest differing reproductive pressure shaped stress responses

role of early life experiences for anxiety

•Childhood trauma and adverse experiences increase risk for anxiety disorders.

•Attachment disruptions can amplify sensitivity to social and environmental threats.

•These experiences shape the development of the HPA axis and emotional regulation.

•Secure attachments may buffer against anxiety by promoting safety and confidence

avoidance

core feature of anxiety disorders, evolved to reduce exposure to danger

• in past, avoiding risky situations or stimuli increased survival chances

what does persistent avoidance in safe context limit?

opportunities and reinforces fear

Implications for fear

•Evolutionary insights highlight the importance of tailoring interventions to specific triggers.

•Exposure therapy targets maladaptive avoidance behaviours by reducing fear responses.

•Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) addresses distorted threat perceptions.

•Therapies grounded in evolutionary principles focus on recalibrating adaptive mechanisms.

evolutionary perspectives on treatment resistence

•Treatment resistance may result from deeply ingrained evolutionary mechanisms.

•Fear and anxiety systems are designed to persist until safety is unequivocal.

•This persistence complicates the deactivation of maladaptive responses.

•Novel therapies might focus on modulating underlying biological systems.