Medical Hypotheses
Volume 58, Issue 3 , Pages 244-248, March 2002

How shamanism and group selection may reveal the origins of schizophrenia

Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba, 771 Bannatyne Ave. Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 3N4, Canada

Received 11 April 2001; accepted 16 August 2001.

Abstract 

Schizophrenia, with its apparent genetic basis, persists despite demonstrating impaired fecundity. Although this has been considered paradoxical, a similar paradigm is observed elsewhere in nature. Honey bee colonies possess sterile task specialists whose presence can best be understood by the evolutionary principle of group selection. Group selection may be pertinent to human history and consequently schizophrenia could represent an ancient form of behavioral specialization. Shamanism and religion demonstrate some similarities to psychosis and may provide clues regarding the origins of schizophrenia.

No full text is available. To read the body of this article, please view the PDF online.

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 31.50 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 
  • f1 Correspondence to: Dr J. Polimeni, 771 Bannatyne Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3E 3N4, Canada. Phone: +204787-7949; Fax: +204787-7480.

PII: S0306-9877(01)91504-X

doi:10.1054/mehy.2001.1504

Medical Hypotheses
Volume 58, Issue 3 , Pages 244-248, March 2002

Article Tools