Li, van Vught, & Colarelli (2018). Corrigendum: The evolutionary mismatch hypothesis: Implications for psychological science.” – Article summary

Psychological mechanisms are adaptations evolved to process environmental inputs, turning them into behavioural outputs that increase survival or reproductive prospects, on average. However, the environment in which these mechanisms evolved is different from the modern context. This is evolutionary mismatch.

Psychological adaptations refer to inherited, species-typical traits that develop reliably and have been retained by selection. It takes specific environmental cues as input and processes these inputs according to evolved decision rules. This leads to behaviour as output.

Mismatches can be classified along source (1), type (2), cause (3) and consequences (4). A mismatch occurs because of significant changes in input cues (i.e. intensity or quantity) (1) or the consequences of the mechanism’s output (2). A mismatch can be positive for the organism.

A forced mismatch occurs when a new environment is imposed on an organism. A hijacked mismatch occurs when novel stimuli are favoured by mechanisms over stimuli that the mechanism evolved to process (e.g. preferring candy over fruit). The mechanism is hijacked. D

There are different causes for mismatch:

1. Changes in input
2. Changes in input intensity
3. Input replaced by novel or fake cues with similar attributes.
4. Change in consequence of output

The different causes for the mismatches can lead to different consequences for individuals and for the reproductive fitness. The effect on individuals can be desirable or undesirable and the reproductive fitness can increase or decrease.

An understanding of a mechanism’s functional features along with relevant mismatched conditions can lead to predictions about mismatch consequences.

Diabetes, myopia and post-partum depression may be examples of mismatch. Prolonged media consumption contributes to the destabilization of long-term relationships and various types of self-dissatisfaction. The modern workplace is dissimilar to ancestral work (e.g. few nature exposure) and this can lead to a mismatch. The choice of leader (i.e. male, strong, tall) is not always effective in modern organizations. Another mismatch in modern organizations is the favouring of relatives in organizations.