[Phylogenetic origin of symptoms in psychopathology. Exemplified by hysteria]

Setting behavioral disturbances affecting humans in a natural environmental context indicates the presence of phylogenetic components in their etiology. Hysterical conversion disorders provide a good illustration. The biological model to which they can be traced seems to be the "distraction display," originally intended to deceive predators and lure them away from the offspring or threatened related individuals. Hysterical tendance to draw attention on oneself could thus paradoxically be seen as performing an altruistic function.