Exploring Psychopathology from an Evolutionary Psychology Perspective

Recently there has been a move to conceptualise mental health problems (psychopathology) from an evolutionary psychology perspective; however, to-date there is limited empirical research investigating psychopathology through an evolutionary psychology lens. There are also mixed findings around the extent to which evolutionary psychology can help account for and explain aetiological various of different mental health disorders.

One evolutionary psychology theory that has received more research than others is a life history account of psychopathology. Phil will present findings from several research projects examining psychopathology from a life history theory perspective and discuss these results in the context of theory and larger implications for models of psychopathology.

Dr Phil Kavanagh is an Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Canberra, evolutionary psychology researcher, practising clinical psychologist, and one of a handful of evolutionary clinical psychologists
in the world. Phil combines his knowledge, experiences, and interests across these domains of psychology to research potential evolutionary explanations and aetiologies of mental health problems.