Researchers have warned that the unprecedented acceleration in the pace of modern life is exceeding the brain and body's ability to adapt, creating what is known as "evolutionary paradox," which may have negative repercussions on mental and physical health.
Dr. Josie Young, from James Cook University in Singapore and lead author of the study, explained that this "evolutionary paradox" is due to the rapid transition – by the standards of human evolution – from a life of hunting and gathering in small, interconnected groups to living in crowded, technology-dependent cities.
He pointed out that humans spent more than 99% of their evolutionary history in natural environments and small communities based on kinship ties, while the shift to urban life occurred in a very short period, which did not give the brain and body enough time to adapt to this new reality.
To illustrate this point, Jung likened humans to moths whose instincts have not adapted to the advent of electric light bulbs, so they are attracted to them until they perish, even though this behavior no longer serves their survival. Similarly, instinctive responses to stress, conflict, and social pressure, which have evolved over hundreds of thousands of years, are no longer suitable for modern life and can often become a source of problems.
He added that this contradiction is clearly evident in social life, as modern man lives among thousands of strangers and is constantly subjected to social and economic comparisons, while social media platforms amplify the intensity of these comparisons.
The researcher argues that this reality creates a vicious cycle; inequality in wealth and status fuels competition, and competition, in turn, deepens this inequality. He calls this idea the "evolutionary social contradiction and competition hypothesis ," suggesting that it may explain the rise in problems such as mental disorders, cognitive exhaustion, social isolation, depression, and even an increased risk of suicidal behavior.
The research team added that this contradiction may also contribute to the decline in birth rates in modern societies, as individuals are preoccupied with competing for status and resources instead of forming families and building stable relationships.
The researchers pointed out that the changes were not limited to the social sphere, but also encompassed the surrounding environment. Crowded cities have replaced nature, and dietary patterns have been radically altered over the past two centuries with the proliferation of ultra-processed foods. These shifts are linked to a number of health effects, including disruption of the biological rhythm due to artificial light, decreased physical activity, and increased rates of myopia in children as a result of reduced exposure to fresh air.
They also pointed out that the world is currently living in what they described as an "era of multiple crises," where environmental, economic and political crises overlap, each feeding the other, making them more difficult to confront.
The researchers warned that continuing to rely on behaviors that were useful in the past, but are no longer suitable for the current environment, could lead to what is called the "evolutionary trap ," where old instincts become a factor that exacerbates problems rather than solves them.
Nevertheless, they emphasized that mitigating the effects of this contradiction is possible by redesigning cities to be more connected to nature and less crowded, encouraging people to spend more time in natural environments, and rethinking the design of social media platforms to reduce the culture of comparison and competition. The researchers believe that recognizing this problem is the first step toward building an environment more in harmony with human nature.
The study was published in the journal Behavioural Sciences.
