Some theorists have looked to our evolutionary past to understand certain types of psychological disorders. One such approach, called the "preparedness hypothesis," has attempted to explain some elements of

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The "preparedness hypothesis" suggests that humans are more prone to develop phobias to objects or situations that posed a threat to our ancestors' survival (e.g., snakes, spiders, heights) because we are evolutionarily predisposed to fear them. This hypothesis does not directly apply to residual schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or paranoid personality disorder.  We may be born with a predisposition to fear whatever living things or objects have been related to sources of danger in our evolutionary past.

Some Theorists Have Looked to Our Evolutionary Past to Understand