Causes of psychopathology

2015 ◽  
pp. 94-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Brüne
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Immunological Diseases ◽  
Proximate Causes ◽  
Suboptimal Design ◽  
Epigenetic Modulation ◽  
The Impact

The causes of psychiatric and psychosomatic conditions can be categorized into two groups: proximate and ultimate (evolutionary) causes. Proximate causes comprise genetic factors, epigenetic modulation, childhood trauma and other life events, and senescence. Ultimate or evolutionary causes concern mismatch between adaptation and current environment, suboptimal design, and design compromises. Examples of evolutionary causes of dysfunction include cognitive and emotional adaptations to small-scale societies (mismatch), anxiety (suboptimal design), premature birth (design compromise), and other features associated with human life history. Furthermore, many ‘diseases of civilization’ fall under the category of mismatch, as well as immunological diseases that may arise from a lack of exposure to pathogens early in life. Prevention of psychopathology, though desirable, may not always be possible due to the fact that evolution does not select for emotional well-being. However, reducing the impact of early adversity and helping people develop alternative life-history strategies may be an attainable goal.

scholarly journals Accurate age estimation in small-scale societies

2017 ◽  
Vol 114 (31) ◽  
pp. 8205-8210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoan Diekmann ◽  
Daniel Smith ◽  
Pascale Gerbault ◽  
Mark Dyble ◽  
Abigail E. Page ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Bayesian Approach ◽  
Age Estimation ◽  
Human Life ◽  
The Philippines ◽  
Monte Carlo Algorithm ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Hunter Gatherers ◽  
Cultural Life ◽  
Ranking Order

Precise estimation of age is essential in evolutionary anthropology, especially to infer population age structures and understand the evolution of human life history diversity. However, in small-scale societies, such as hunter-gatherer populations, time is often not referred to in calendar years, and accurate age estimation remains a challenge. We address this issue by proposing a Bayesian approach that accounts for age uncertainty inherent to fieldwork data. We developed a Gibbs sampling Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm that produces posterior distributions of ages for each individual, based on a ranking order of individuals from youngest to oldest and age ranges for each individual. We first validate our method on 65 Agta foragers from the Philippines with known ages, and show that our method generates age estimations that are superior to previously published regression-based approaches. We then use data on 587 Agta collected during recent fieldwork to demonstrate how multiple partial age ranks coming from multiple camps of hunter-gatherers can be integrated. Finally, we exemplify how the distributions generated by our method can be used to estimate important demographic parameters in small-scale societies: here, age-specific fertility patterns. Our flexible Bayesian approach will be especially useful to improve cross-cultural life history datasets for small-scale societies for which reliable age records are difficult to acquire.

Physiological and Growth Differences in Three Stocks of Underyearling Sockeye Salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) on Early Entry into Seawater

1994 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 974-980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanley D. Rice ◽  
Robert E. Thomas ◽  
Adam Moles
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Sockeye Salmon ◽  
Salt Water ◽  
Oncorhynchus Nerka ◽  
Early Life History ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Growth Differences ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Lake Type ◽  
River Type

We compared the impact of exposure to seawater on three sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) stocks: one that normally migrates to sea as underyearlings (sea-type) and two with the more common life history strategies of 1 (river-type) or 2 (lake-type) yr of freshwater residence prior to seaward migration. Innate differences in survival, ability to regulate tissue chlorides, and oxygen consumption when first introduced into salt water were more evident in April and May when fish were less than 50 mm in length. In fish longer than 50 mm, the only significant differences among the stocks were in saltwater growth. Between June and August, sea-type fish showed faster growth than river-type fish which in turn grew faster than lake-type fish. When introduced into salt water in October, virtually no growth occurred in any stock, regardless of fish size. River-type and lake-type sockeye, which normally overwinter 1 and 2 yr, respectively, in freshwater, can be reared in seawater if underyearlings are raised to a length of 50 mm before release into salt water, similar to the normal life history of sea-type underyearlings. Early life history appears to be influenced more by habitat than by genetics.

scholarly journals Environmental noise, its types and effects on health

2021 ◽  
pp. 41-48
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Road Traffic ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Traffic Noise ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Environmental Noise ◽  
Road Traffic Noise ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Railway Traffic ◽  
The Impact

Noise can be defined as an undesirable sound that pollutes the environment. If noise is continuous and exceeds certain levels, negative effects on health can be observed. In recent years, the impact of environmental noise (road traffic noise, railway traffic noise, air traffic noise and industrial noise) on human health has come under increasingly intense scrutiny. Noise can cause a number of negative effects on health that directly or indirectly affect humans. The occurrence of some certain and harmful health effects drives the onset of others and may contribute to the development of various diseases. Health is not only a state of physical well-being, but also mental well-being. Mental health primarily depends on the quality of life, which can be affected by various environmental factors, such as noise. An important aspect of fighting noise is the most effective protection of the population by avoiding sources of noise and reducing it. This can be achieved by introducing new technical solutions and new technologies, including devices that generate less noise. Another important measure is educating the society and influencing the change of individual and collective behavior, which may contribute to reducing the harmful factor, which is noise in human life, and minimize the resulting negative effects on health.

scholarly journals Farmers’ Participation in Agritourism: Does It Affect the Bottom Line?

2013 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyunjeong Joo ◽  
Aditya R. Khanal ◽  
Ashok K. Mishra
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Bottom Line ◽  
Alternative Source ◽  
Large Farm ◽  
Household Incomes ◽  
On Farm ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Economic Well Being

Agritourism is an alternative source of farm income. We examine farmers’ participation in agritourism activities to assess the impact of participation on farm household income and return to assets using a large farm-level survey. The results reveal that older, educated, and female operators are more likely to participate in agritourism. However, government subsidies and the population of the county are negatively correlated with agritourism. Of the types of farm operations examined, small-scale farms that involved agritourism generated the greatest household incomes and returns to assets. For operators of small farms, agritourism can boost the economic well-being of farm households.

METEOROLOGICAL VOCABULARY IN UKRAINIAN AND CHINESE LANGUAGES: SYSTEMATIC TRANSLATION

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (31) ◽  
pp. 36-50
Author(s):  
Natalia Gavrilyuk
Keyword(s):  
Human Life ◽  
Modern Science ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Natural Phenomena ◽  
Important Place ◽  
Close Link ◽  
Ancient People ◽  
The World ◽  
The Impact

Within the anthropocentric paradigm of modern linguistics there is a steady interest in the human factor in language, which, among other things, is realized through the close attention of researchers to the theory of linguistic pictures of the world, which fully reflects the uniqueness of peoples Human life and activity are inseparable from nature. Nature is one, but manifests itself in various forms. In the process of learning about nature, man tries to realize both its unity and diversity. A special place in the perception of the world by man is occupied by climatic and weather phenomena that affect human behavior in the world, various aspects of his life, including economic, as well as well-being. In the IV century. BC became aware of the impact of fluctuations in weather conditions on human health. For example, Hippocrates established a close link between human disease and the weather conditions in which he lives. Over the centuries, people have gathered a variety of knowledge about nature: from misunderstanding of natural phenomena, fear of them, inherent in ancient people, to today’s scientific knowledge of nature, from the first folk signs of weather to the formation of modern science — meteorology. Nature as a source of everything necessary for man has an impact on both the material and spiritual culture of society. Therefore, knowledge of meteorological phenomena occupies an important place in the awareness of reality. The article considers the peculiarities of meteorological vocabulary in Chinese and Ukrainian languages, as well as the peculiarities of meteorological vocabulary translation in two languages.

Life History Strategies

2018 ◽  
pp. 95-126
Author(s):  
Marco Del Giudice
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Individual Differences ◽  
Life History Theory ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Life History Strategy ◽  
Current Theory ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Extended Model ◽  
Life History Variation ◽  
Basic Model

The chapter introduces the basics of life history theory, the concept of life history strategy, and the fast–slow continuum of variation. After reviewing applications to animal behavior and physiology, the chapter reviews current theory and evidence on individual differences in humans as manifestations of alternative life history strategies. The chapter first presents a “basic model” of human life history–related traits, then advances an “extended model” that identifies multiple cognitive-behavioral profiles within fast and slow strategies. Specifically, it is proposed that slow strategies comprise prosocial/caregiving and skilled/provisioning profiles, whereas fast strategies comprise antisocial/exploitative and seductive/creative profiles. The chapter also reviews potential neurobiological markers of life history variation and considers key methodological issues in this area.

scholarly journals Older People, Mobility and Transport in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Review of the Research

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (21) ◽  
pp. 6157 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Gorman ◽  
Sion Jones ◽  
Jeffrey Turner
Keyword(s):  
Older People ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The State ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Knowledge Gaps ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Older populations are rising globally, which in high-income countries has helped to generate a growing literature on the impact of ageing on travel requirements and transport policy. This article aims to provide an initial assessment of the state of knowledge on the impact on transportation policy and usage of the increasing numbers of older people in low- and middle-income countries (LAMICs), through a review of the literature relating to older people and transportation. As both the academic and policy/practice-related literature specifically addressing ageing and transport in LAMICs is limited, the study looks beyond transportation to assess the state of knowledge regarding the ways in which older people’s mobility is affected by issues, such as health, well-being, social (dis)engagement and gender. We find significant knowledge gaps, resulting in an evidence base to support the implementation of policy is lacking. Most research in low-income countries (LICs) is either broad quantitative analysis based on national survey data or small-scale qualitative studies. We conclude that, although study of the differing contexts of ageing in LAMICs as they relate to older people’s mobilities and transport use has barely begun, institutions which both make and influence policymaking recognise the existence of significant knowledge gaps. This should provide the context in which research agendas can be established.

scholarly journals Human Life History Strategies

2016 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 147470491667734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristine J. Chua ◽  
Aaron W. Lukaszewski ◽  
DeMond M. Grant ◽  
Oliver Sng
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Health Status ◽  
Latent Variable ◽  
Structural Equation Models ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Mating Strategies ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Environmental Cues ◽  
Behavioral Phenotypes ◽  
Wide Range

Human life history (LH) strategies are theoretically regulated by developmental exposure to environmental cues that ancestrally predicted LH-relevant world states (e.g., risk of morbidity–mortality). Recent modeling work has raised the question of whether the association of childhood family factors with adult LH variation arises via (i) direct sampling of external environmental cues during development and/or (ii) calibration of LH strategies to internal somatic condition (i.e., health), which itself reflects exposure to variably favorable environments. The present research tested between these possibilities through three online surveys involving a total of over 26,000 participants. Participants completed questionnaires assessing components of self-reported environmental harshness (i.e., socioeconomic status, family neglect, and neighborhood crime), health status, and various LH-related psychological and behavioral phenotypes (e.g., mating strategies, paranoia, and anxiety), modeled as a unidimensional latent variable. Structural equation models suggested that exposure to harsh ecologies had direct effects on latent LH strategy as well as indirect effects on latent LH strategy mediated via health status. These findings suggest that human LH strategies may be calibrated to both external and internal cues and that such calibrational effects manifest in a wide range of psychological and behavioral phenotypes.

scholarly journals Inclusive fitness and differential productivity across the life course determine intergenerational transfers in a small-scale human society

2015 ◽  
Vol 282 (1803) ◽  
pp. 20142808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul L. Hooper ◽  
Michael Gurven ◽  
Jeffrey Winking ◽  
Hillard S. Kaplan
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Inclusive Fitness ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Intergenerational Transfers ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Life History Evolution ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Human Society ◽  
Extended Lifespan ◽  
The Life Course

Transfers of resources between generations are an essential element in current models of human life-history evolution accounting for prolonged development, extended lifespan and menopause. Integrating these models with Hamilton's theory of inclusive fitness, we predict that the interaction of biological kinship with the age-schedule of resource production should be a key driver of intergenerational transfers. In the empirical case of Tsimane’ forager–horticulturalists in Bolivian Amazonia, we provide a detailed characterization of net transfers of food according to age, sex, kinship and the net need of donors and recipients. We show that parents, grandparents and siblings provide significant net downward transfers of food across generations. We demonstrate that the extent of provisioning responds facultatively to variation in the productivity and demographic composition of families, as predicted by the theory. We hypothesize that the motivation to provide these critical transfers is a fundamental force that binds together human nuclear and extended families. The ubiquity of three-generational families in human societies may thus be a direct reflection of fundamental evolutionary constraints on an organism's life-history and social organization.

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