Hunter versus farmer hypothesis

Common card · No. 464920

The hunter versus farmer hypothesis is a proposed explanation for the nature of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It was first suggested by radio host Thom Hartmann in his book Attention Deficit Disorder: A Different Perception. The hypothesis notes that humans spent most of their evolutionary history in hunter-gatherer societies, and it argues that ADHD represents a lack of adaptation to farming societies. Hartmann first developed the idea as a mental model after his own son was diagnosed with ADHD, stating, "It's not hard science, and was never intended to be." The hypothesis seeks to explain the "hyperfocus" aspect of ADHD, the distractibility factor in ADHD, the short attention span individuals with ADHD have for subjects that do not interest them (which may or may not trigger hyperfocus), and various other characteristics related to ADHD (namely, hyperactivity and impulsivity). A key component of the hypothesis is that the proposed “hyperfocus” aspect of ADHD is a...

Read on Wikipedia