A biological theory – the social rank theory of clinical depression Flashcards
The evolutionary function of depression
Evolutionary psychologists Anthony Stevens and John Price (2001) suggest that depression has evolved to have a specific purpose that helped us adapt and survive.
If we lose at something, depression is a natural reaction which allows us to come to terms with the fact that we have lost and the consequences of this. It also prevents us from aspiring to achieve a higher status than we currently have
and to stop competing.
For example, if we applied for a more senior position at work and the position
goes to a colleague instead, social rank theory suggests that the depression as
a result of this failure serves to allow us to come to terms with the fact that we will
not have a position of seniority, nor will we have the financial rewards that would have accompanied the job. It prevents us from arguing that we should have had the position ourselves and helps maintain the ‘status quo’ in the office. We have evolved to accept a subordinate role. The function is to prevent the loser from suffering defeat. Therefore they reduce efforts and ambitions which leads to depression.
The role of a lower rank in reducing conflict
In evolutionary terms, by accepting a position of lower rank in society, this
prevents the person who has won from ‘inflicting further injury’ on the loser and ensures the loser will not try again to gain a higher rank in society. This means that social change can happen relatively quickly without too much on-going conflict.
By yielding to the winner, it allows the loser to maintain a place in society, which millennia ago, would have allowed the loser to have continued protection of the group, which was essential for survival. Although being unpopular and losing rank is not a pleasant experience, it is preferable to being ejected from the group entirely.
2 Criticisms of the theory
The social rank theory of depression can be considered
reductionist as it only views depression as a process of
evolution. It suggests that it is an instinctive reaction to a situation where
you have been a ‘loser’. However, it ignores individual differences, for
example where one person could react with depression if they lose out on a
job opportunity, someone else might view it as a challenge and work harder
to ensure that they get the next promotion.
The theory suggests that depression is limited to ‘losers’ and
people of low social rank, but the evidence does not support
this. Although the statistics suggest that depression is more common
in people who are poorer and therefore more likely to be of lower social
rank, there is still a significant proportion of people of high social rank who
experience depression including actors, musicians and politicians.
2 Criticisms of the theory
The theory also ignores instances of depression that can be
triggered by life events other than social rank conflicts such as the
stress of being a carer. Being a carer for a sick relative, such as a partner
with Alzheimer’s disease, can result in depression as coping with the symptoms
which only get progressively worse can be hard to manage, especially if the
carer has little social support. This is not explained by the social rank theory.
The social rank theory is also reductionist within the biological
approach as it fails to take into account other biological
explanations for depression. Evolutionary psychology is biological
and suggests that we inherit psychological traits and have evolved so that
we adapt and are more able to survive. However, there are other biological
theories. One suggestion is that depression might be caused by an imbalance
of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and
serotonin. Therefore, the evolutionary view of depression is too narrow
(reductionist) even within the biological approach to psychology.
