An Evolutionary Hypothesis for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Psychological Immune System?
A new hypothesis is presented within the framework of evolutionary psychology that attempts to explain the origins of obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is suggested that obsessions and compulsions originate from the overactivity of a mental module that the majority of humans possess and has the func...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
1999-01-01
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| Series: | Behavioural Neurology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1999/657382 |
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| _version_ | 1832561327072083968 |
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| author | Riadh T. Abed Karel W. de Pauw |
| author_facet | Riadh T. Abed Karel W. de Pauw |
| author_sort | Riadh T. Abed |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A new hypothesis is presented within the framework of evolutionary psychology that attempts to explain the origins of obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is suggested that obsessions and compulsions originate from the overactivity of a mental module that the majority of humans possess and has the function of generating risk scenarios without voluntary intervention. It is hypothesised that obsessional phenomena function as an off-line risk avoidance process, designed to lead to risk avoidance behaviour at a future time, thus distinguishing it from anxiety and related phenomena as on-line emotional states, designed to lead to the avoidance of immediate and direct risks. Finally, the hypothesis makes a number of specific predictions that are testable and refutable. It is contended that the present hypothesis if supported by empirical evidence could serve as a basis for future research on this important disorder. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-eb4670af24ad44439447ad09da97e62c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0953-4180 1875-8584 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 1999-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioural Neurology |
| spelling | doaj-art-eb4670af24ad44439447ad09da97e62c2025-02-03T01:25:23ZengWileyBehavioural Neurology0953-41801875-85841999-01-0111424525010.1155/1999/657382An Evolutionary Hypothesis for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Psychological Immune System?Riadh T. Abed0Karel W. de Pauw1Rotherham District General Hospital, Moorgate Road, Rotherham S60 2UD, UKSt James's University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, UKA new hypothesis is presented within the framework of evolutionary psychology that attempts to explain the origins of obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is suggested that obsessions and compulsions originate from the overactivity of a mental module that the majority of humans possess and has the function of generating risk scenarios without voluntary intervention. It is hypothesised that obsessional phenomena function as an off-line risk avoidance process, designed to lead to risk avoidance behaviour at a future time, thus distinguishing it from anxiety and related phenomena as on-line emotional states, designed to lead to the avoidance of immediate and direct risks. Finally, the hypothesis makes a number of specific predictions that are testable and refutable. It is contended that the present hypothesis if supported by empirical evidence could serve as a basis for future research on this important disorder.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1999/657382 |
| spellingShingle | Riadh T. Abed Karel W. de Pauw An Evolutionary Hypothesis for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Psychological Immune System? Behavioural Neurology |
| title | An Evolutionary Hypothesis for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Psychological Immune System? |
| title_full | An Evolutionary Hypothesis for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Psychological Immune System? |
| title_fullStr | An Evolutionary Hypothesis for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Psychological Immune System? |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Evolutionary Hypothesis for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Psychological Immune System? |
| title_short | An Evolutionary Hypothesis for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: A Psychological Immune System? |
| title_sort | evolutionary hypothesis for obsessive compulsive disorder a psychological immune system |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/1999/657382 |
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