Imagine if our psychosis was actually beneficial in assisting us in striving for our goals in life.The social navigation hypothesis argues that concept.
What is it?
Social Navigation Hypothesis is the thought that depression, anxiety is beneficial because it assists us in striving for a better spot in life. Anxiety over losing a job will make us work harder,etc.
How does it relate to our behaviors
Analyzing the Social Navigation Hypothesis in regards to an alternative reason for mental illness. Proving that mental illness should be seen as useful and not a burden. Taking this fact and understanding that according to Social Navigation Hypothesis mental illness pushes us to get further in life and "curing" it would be a hindrance to our overall well-being. One may wonder how is that possible if mental illness is so debilitating. According to the Social Navigation Hypothesis, it may feel dreadful to have a mental illness, but it is actually valuable for survival.
Illnesses motivates
Social Navigation Hypothesis (SNH) suggests that conditions cataloged as "illness, or "disorder" were beneficial to our survival. This theory affirms that what we would categorize as mental illness benefits us by urging us to integrate for a higher rank in society (Evolutionary approaches to depression - Wikipedia). This has no correlation with beauty or weight as our ancestors did not have Instagram makeup tips in the past, nor did they care about dieting. However, SNH indicates that our mental "illnesses" are actually the motivation for the strive to succeed. A good example of how SNH works - depression makes us work vigorously for a job promotion and anxiety before a test makes us study forcefully.
Forces you to learn from your mistakes.
Without matters classified as "disorders" and "illnesses," according to the SNH, a person wouldn't bother learning from mistakes. People want to push themselves to be the best in relationships and careers. SNH shows depression and anxiety provokes a person to experience ego loss and apologize to loved ones. Depression about losing a partner convinces a person to look back on errors and fix them.Anxiety over losing a loved one to "someone better" may push someone to finally eat better (not necessarily lose weight), exercise more (again, not always to lose weight), push oneself in his or her career, and even want to learn about a new subject (Huber. 2007, November 02). This is also true (according to SNH) if you are depressed about losing your job to someone else you work powerfully and maybe even get promoted as a result of the work accomplished. SNH tells people that accepting loss instead of trying to change that fact is beneficial. Negative feelings due to an outcome convince us of acceptance and growth as a person even if our emotions are negative.
Forces you to recognize what is bothering you to push yourself for better , re-think how we may have been mean
Sometimes the fear of losing a partner can help us recognize maybe we were not admirable in the relationship. It can help us be a better person by recognizing our mistakes. This isn't saying be joyful constantly, or never argue. However, if you're always fighting with people, always judging occurrences, etc. the fear of losing others may help you change how you act towards persons. SNH declares mental illness develops when we know we are not at our best potential. Depression or anxiety push people to strenuously work to achieve a career with what he or she wishes to achieve in life. Fear of losing people because a person notices how judgmental and rude (not pessimistic)he or she may have been might have any influence people to be more grateful (Huber. 2007, November 02).
Sadness over events = fight for social change
Depression & Anxiety leads to size acceptance, LGBT+ rights, bring about organized marches. This is also true for people in the size acceptance movement, gay rights & trans rights activists, etc. They want to show the world they are not what their stereotypes perceive them to be. Depression over losing rights forced them to proceed in activism which helps change people's minds about size and weight. While it's not directly linked to status, people want to not be treated as inferior to others based on who they love or what size or weight they are.
Cures interrupt our desire to strive
Watson and Andrews state that SNH specifies trying to "cure" mental illness can actually dismantle the person's ability to improve their life and decision-making skills along with the mindset he or she needs to want to improve their life (Watson, P. J., & Andrews, P. W.). If you subscribe to SNH, without mental illness in life people would be complacent not achieving anything in life, whereas symptoms of "mental Illness" about not having certain commodities cause people to aim in order to obtain it.
Illnesses motivates
Social Navigation Hypothesis (SNH) suggests that conditions cataloged as "illness, or "disorder" were beneficial to our survival. This theory affirms that what we would categorize as mental illness benefits us by urging us to integrate for a higher rank in society (Evolutionary approaches to depression - Wikipedia). This has no correlation with beauty or weight as our ancestors did not have Instagram makeup tips in the past, nor did they care about dieting. However, SNH indicates that our mental "illnesses" are actually the motivation for the strive to succeed. A good example of how SNH works - depression makes us work vigorously for a job promotion and anxiety before a test makes us study forcefully.
Forces you to learn from your mistakes.
Without matters classified as "disorders" and "illnesses," according to the SNH, a person wouldn't bother learning from mistakes. People want to push themselves to be the best in relationships and careers. SNH shows depression and anxiety provokes a person to experience ego loss and apologize to loved ones. Depression about losing a partner convinces a person to look back on errors and fix them.Anxiety over losing a loved one to "someone better" may push someone to finally eat better (not necessarily lose weight), exercise more (again, not always to lose weight), push oneself in his or her career, and even want to learn about a new subject (Huber. 2007, November 02). This is also true (according to SNH) if you are depressed about losing your job to someone else you work powerfully and maybe even get promoted as a result of the work accomplished. SNH tells people that accepting loss instead of trying to change that fact is beneficial. Negative feelings due to an outcome convince us of acceptance and growth as a person even if our emotions are negative.
Forces you to recognize what is bothering you to push yourself for better , re-think how we may have been mean
Sometimes the fear of losing a partner can help us recognize maybe we were not admirable in the relationship. It can help us be a better person by recognizing our mistakes. This isn't saying be joyful constantly, or never argue. However, if you're always fighting with people, always judging occurrences, etc. the fear of losing others may help you change how you act towards persons. SNH declares mental illness develops when we know we are not at our best potential. Depression or anxiety push people to strenuously work to achieve a career with what he or she wishes to achieve in life. Fear of losing people because a person notices how judgmental and rude (not pessimistic)he or she may have been might have any influence people to be more grateful (Huber. 2007, November 02).
Sadness over events = fight for social change
Depression & Anxiety leads to size acceptance, LGBT+ rights, bring about organized marches. This is also true for people in the size acceptance movement, gay rights & trans rights activists, etc. They want to show the world they are not what their stereotypes perceive them to be. Depression over losing rights forced them to proceed in activism which helps change people's minds about size and weight. While it's not directly linked to status, people want to not be treated as inferior to others based on who they love or what size or weight they are.
Cures interrupt our desire to strive
Watson and Andrews state that SNH specifies trying to "cure" mental illness can actually dismantle the person's ability to improve their life and decision-making skills along with the mindset he or she needs to want to improve their life (Watson, P. J., & Andrews, P. W.). If you subscribe to SNH, without mental illness in life people would be complacent not achieving anything in life, whereas symptoms of "mental Illness" about not having certain commodities cause people to aim in order to obtain it.
References & more info:
Huber, B. R. (2007, November 02). Brad R. Huber's Presentation Notes for Toward a Revised Evolutionary Adaptationist Analysis of Depression . Retrieved February 06, 2017, from http://huberb.people.cofc.edu/www/Classroom%20Visuals/340%20Visuals/340%20Presentations/Watson%20Andrews%20Evolution%20Depression%20Presentation.html
Watson, P. J., & Andrews, P. W. (2002). Toward a revised evolutionary adaptationist analysis of depression: the social navigation hypothesis Watson, Paul J et al. Journal of Affective Disorders , Volume 72 , Issue 1 , 1 - 14 [Abstract]. Journal of Affective Disorders, 72(1). Retrieved February 6, 2017, from http://www.jad-journal.com/article/S0165-0327(01)00459-1/abstract
Watson, P. J. (2015, May 18). The Social Navigation Hypothesis of Unipolar Depression: An Evolutionary Adaptationist Analysis of Low Mood, with Major Practical Implications for Successful Long-Term Treatment. Retrieved February 06, 2017, from http://biology.unm.edu/pwatson/dp1.htm
Evolutionary approaches to depression - Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved February 06, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_approaches_to_depression#Social_navigation_or_niche_change_theory
Gilbert, P. . Jan 2002.. Evolution and social anxiety: The role of attraction, social competition, and social hierarchies. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/11631389_Evolution_and_social_anxiety_The_role_of_attraction_social_competition_and_social_hierarchies
Huber, B. R. (2007, November 02). Brad R. Huber's Presentation Notes for Toward a Revised Evolutionary Adaptationist Analysis of Depression . Retrieved February 06, 2017, from http://huberb.people.cofc.edu/www/Classroom%20Visuals/340%20Visuals/340%20Presentations/Watson%20Andrews%20Evolution%20Depression%20Presentation.html
Watson, P. J., & Andrews, P. W. (2002). Toward a revised evolutionary adaptationist analysis of depression: the social navigation hypothesis Watson, Paul J et al. Journal of Affective Disorders , Volume 72 , Issue 1 , 1 - 14 [Abstract]. Journal of Affective Disorders, 72(1). Retrieved February 6, 2017, from http://www.jad-journal.com/article/S0165-0327(01)00459-1/abstract
Watson, P. J. (2015, May 18). The Social Navigation Hypothesis of Unipolar Depression: An Evolutionary Adaptationist Analysis of Low Mood, with Major Practical Implications for Successful Long-Term Treatment. Retrieved February 06, 2017, from http://biology.unm.edu/pwatson/dp1.htm
Evolutionary approaches to depression - Wikipedia. (n.d.). Retrieved February 06, 2017, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolutionary_approaches_to_depression#Social_navigation_or_niche_change_theory
Gilbert, P. . Jan 2002.. Evolution and social anxiety: The role of attraction, social competition, and social hierarchies. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/11631389_Evolution_and_social_anxiety_The_role_of_attraction_social_competition_and_social_hierarchies