A teleofunctional account of evolutionary mismatch

Area of Science:

• Evolutionary biology
• Cognitive psychology
• Medicine

Background:

• Evolutionary mismatch, or novelty, describes environmental deviations from an organism's adapted state.
• This concept is crucial in psychology and medicine but lacks a clear scientific definition.
• Contemporary environmental novelty is linked to health and well-being concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define evolutionary mismatch rigorously.
• To develop a taxonomy of mismatch types and subtypes.
• To provide a framework for formulating empirical hypotheses about mismatch effects.

Main Methods:

• Defining mismatch as environmental deviations impairing biological trait functions.
• Utilizing Millikan's theories of proper function and teleosemantics.
• Classifying mismatch into four major types and subtypes.

Main Results:

• A formal definition of evolutionary mismatch is proposed.
• A novel taxonomy categorizes four major types and several subtypes of mismatch.
• The framework allows for coherent formulation of hypotheses, such as intelligence evolving for novelty.

Conclusions:

• The proposed definition and taxonomy clarify evolutionary mismatch.
• This framework aids in developing testable hypotheses regarding mismatch's impact.
• It offers a conceptually sound approach to studying evolutionary novelty and its consequences.