Is ADHD a Disability? (Hunter Gatherer Theory)

Summary

This video script explores the theory that ADHD may not be a disorder but an evolutionary trait inherited from our hunter-gatherer ancestors. It discusses how traits beneficial for survival in ancient times, such as constant environmental awareness, the ability to hyperfocus, rapid decision-making, and risk-taking, are now often misunderstood in modern society. The script challenges the conventional view of ADHD as a learning disability and suggests that it might be a misfit in a world designed for 'farmers' rather than 'hunters'.

Takeaways

• 😀 ADHD is often perceived as a learning disability due to its association with inattentiveness and hyperactivity in children.
• 🎓 The script suggests that success in life is often tied to academic achievements, which can be challenging for individuals with ADHD.
• 🧠 The speaker posits that ADHD might be a result of evolutionary traits inherited from our hunter-gatherer ancestors.
• 🔍 The script mentions that early theories about ADHD being caused by drinking during pregnancy were debunked.
• 🏞️ It is suggested that the traits associated with ADHD, such as hyperfocus and quick decision-making, were advantageous in ancient hunting societies.
• 🦁 The ability to recognize subtle environmental cues and react quickly to potential threats was crucial for survival in the past.
• 🎯 The script highlights that individuals with ADHD can hyperfocus on tasks that interest them, similar to the intense focus required for hunting.
• 🚀 People with ADHD are described as being able to make fast, impulsive decisions, which would have been beneficial in a hunter's quick-changing environment.
• 👀 The preference for visual learning and thinking, as opposed to abstract theories, is linked to the practical needs of hunters.
• 💥 The script describes an 'explosive energy' in individuals with ADHD, which could have been useful for sudden bursts of activity in hunting scenarios.
• 🏠 The dislike for routine tasks and chores is compared to the hunter's preference for the excitement of the hunt over mundane activities.
• 🤔 The script explores the idea that the traits of ADHD are not a disorder but rather a different way of functioning that was once essential for survival.
• 🧐 It concludes by suggesting that the modern world, built more for 'farmers,' may not fully accommodate the 'hunter' traits of ADHD, leading to misunderstandings.

Q & A

Why is ADHD often labeled as a learning disability in modern times?

ADHD is often labeled as a learning disability because individuals with ADHD may struggle to focus and listen, which are perceived as necessary for acquiring learning essentials in a traditional educational setting.

What is the traditional view of a learning disability in relation to success in life?

The traditional view is that a learning disability is synonymous with not being able to be successful in life, as it is believed that a good job requires a degree showcasing one's abilities, which a person with ADHD might find challenging to obtain.

Why is ADHD considered to have an evolutionary origin?

ADHD is considered to have an evolutionary origin because it may be linked to the traits of our ancestors who were hunters and gatherers, requiring constant environmental awareness, focus, quick decision-making, and visual thinking for survival.

What was the early 20th-century theory about the cause of ADHD, and was it debunked?

In the early 20th century, ADHD was thought to be a byproduct of drinking alcohol during pregnancy, but this theory was later debunked as studies found that parents of children with ADHD often have ADHD themselves.

What is the estimated prevalence of ADHD worldwide?

The estimated prevalence of ADHD worldwide ranges from about 3.4% to 5%, suggesting that millions of people globally may have ADHD.

According to Thom Hartmann, which ancestral role did humans with ADHD inherit genetics from?

According to Thom Hartmann, humans with ADHD have inherited genetics from their hunter and gatherer ancestors.

Why were hunters' brains adapted to recognize every little environmental change?

Hunters' brains were adapted to recognize every little environmental change to quickly respond to potential threats like a bear or lion, which could have meant life or death for the hunter.

How does the ability of hunters to hyperfocus for hours on their hunt relate to ADHD?

The ability of hunters to hyperfocus for hours on their hunt relates to ADHD because individuals with ADHD can also hyperfocus on tasks that spark their interest for extended periods.

Why were hunters required to make fast decisions and how does this relate to people with ADHD?

Hunters were required to make fast decisions to ensure their survival during hunts and when facing threats like attacks from wild animals. This relates to people with ADHD, who are known for making impulsive decisions without overthinking long-term implications.

How does the visual learning style of hunters compare to learning methods preferred by people with ADHD?

The visual learning style of hunters, where they needed to see how something is done to learn effectively, compares to people with ADHD who often prefer learning through visual aids and demonstrations rather than abstract theories or equations.

Why might people with ADHD be more prone to taking risks compared to others?

People with ADHD might be more prone to taking risks because, like their hunter ancestors, they are naturally inclined to take on challenges that others might avoid, which could have been essential for survival in ancient times.

What is the modern societal view of hunters in comparison to farmers, and how does this relate to ADHD?

In modern society, which is largely constructed for 'farmers' or individuals who follow routines and structures, 'hunters' or those with ADHD are often misunderstood and seen as having a disorder because they do not fit the status quo and behave 'disorderly' in comparison to the majority.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 The Misconception of ADHD as a Learning Disability

This paragraph addresses the common misconception that ADHD is a learning disability, often due to the assumption that individuals with ADHD cannot learn as effectively as their peers. It discusses the societal pressure to succeed through formal education and the unique brain functions of those with ADHD. The script delves into the evolutionary origins of ADHD, suggesting that it may be a result of our ancestors' hunting and gathering behaviors. It also refutes early theories about ADHD being a result of drinking during pregnancy and highlights the wide prevalence of ADHD, affecting an estimated 340 to 500 million people worldwide. The paragraph concludes by questioning the very definition of a disorder and hints at the possibility of ADHD being an evolutionary trait rather than a disorder.

05:00

🏹 The Evolutionary Advantages of ADHD Traits

The second paragraph explores the theory that ADHD traits may have been advantageous in our ancestors who were hunters and gatherers. It outlines several reasons why these traits would have been beneficial, such as the ability to recognize subtle environmental cues, maintain focus for extended periods during hunts, make quick decisions, think visually, and possess explosive energy. It also touches on the tendency of hunters to get bored easily with routine tasks and their propensity for risk-taking and self-criticism. The paragraph concludes by discussing how the modern world, which is more suited to 'farmers' or individuals who can adhere to structured routines, often misunderstands and mislabels 'hunters' or those with ADHD as having a disorder, despite their potential for success in different contexts.

Keywords

💡ADHD

ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulty with sustained attention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. In the video's context, it is discussed as potentially being a misunderstood evolutionary trait rather than a disorder, with the script suggesting that people with ADHD may have inherited traits beneficial to hunter-gatherer ancestors.

💡Learning Disability

A learning disability refers to a range of cognitive conditions that affect a person's ability to learn or understand as effectively as others in a traditional educational setting. The script points out that ADHD is often labeled as a learning disability, implying that individuals with ADHD face challenges in acquiring learning essentials in the same way as their peers.

💡Evolutionary

Evolutionary refers to the process of gradual change and development in species over successive generations. The video script suggests that ADHD might have an evolutionary origin, with traits associated with the condition possibly being advantageous in a hunting-gathering context.

💡Hyperfocus

Hyperfocus is the ability to intensely concentrate on a single task or interest for an extended period, often to the exclusion of other stimuli. The script mentions that individuals with ADHD can hyperfocus on things that interest them, which aligns with the traits of hunters who needed to concentrate on their prey for long durations.

💡Impulsivity

Impulsivity is the tendency to act without thinking about the consequences of one's actions. In the script, it is noted that people with ADHD are known for making quick, unguided decisions, which is likened to the fast decision-making necessary for survival in a hunter's environment.

💡Behavioral Therapy

Behavioral therapy is a type of psychological treatment that focuses on changing problematic behaviors or habits. The script suggests that behavioral therapy may be one of the management strategies for ADHD, indicating a range of approaches to help individuals cope with the condition.

💡Counseling

Counseling is a professional guidance or advice given to help someone deal with personal or psychological problems. The video mentions counseling as a potential recommendation for managing ADHD, highlighting the importance of emotional and psychological support in addition to behavioral strategies.

💡Disorder

In the context of the video, a disorder is a disruption of the systemic functioning of the body or mind. The script questions the definition of a disorder, particularly in relation to ADHD, suggesting that what is considered a disorder today might have been beneficial in the past.

💡Hunters and Gatherers

Hunters and gatherers refers to the pre-agricultural way of life in which people survived by hunting wild animals and gathering edible plants. The script posits that individuals with ADHD may have inherited traits from these ancestors, who required quick reflexes, visual thinking, and the ability to take risks for survival.

💡Risk-Takers

Risk-takers are individuals who are willing to take significant risks in the face of uncertainty or potential danger. The video describes people with ADHD as being prone to taking risks, which is tied to the hunter's need to make bold, quick decisions to ensure survival.

💡Misunderstood

Misunderstood implies that the true nature or capabilities of a person or thing are not properly recognized or appreciated. The script argues that people with ADHD are often misunderstood due to their behavior, which does not align with societal norms or expectations, leading to the perception of having a disorder.

Highlights

ADHD is often labeled as a learning disability due to misconceptions about its impact on learning capabilities.

The societal view of learning disabilities is tied to success in life and obtaining a degree, which may not fully apply to individuals with ADHD.

ADHD is a condition where the brain functions differently, not necessarily less effectively, compared to those without it.

The prevalence of ADHD is high, with estimates ranging from 340 to 500 million people worldwide.

ADHD may have evolutionary roots, with traits inherited from ancient hunter-gatherer ancestors.

Hunters had to be constantly alert to their surroundings, which could explain the distractibility seen in ADHD today.

The ability to hyperfocus on tasks of interest is a trait that may have been beneficial for hunters and is now observed in ADHD.

Hunters needed to make quick decisions, a trait that aligns with the impulsivity often associated with ADHD.

Visual thinking was crucial for hunters, which may relate to the preference for visual learning in individuals with ADHD.

ADHD individuals often have high energy that can be channeled into activities they are passionate about, similar to the energy hunters needed for their hunts.

Hunters were prone to boredom with routine tasks, a trait that is mirrored in the aversion to non-stimulating activities by those with ADHD.

ADHD individuals are often risk-takers, which may be a reflection of the hunter's need to take risks for survival.

The self-criticism and impatience seen in ADHD could be traced back to the hunter's need for quick decision-making and survival instincts.

The modern world, constructed for 'farmers,' may not fully accommodate the traits of 'hunters' with ADHD, leading to misunderstandings.

The theory suggests that genetic traits that were advantageous in ancient times may be perceived as disorders in today's society.

The discrepancy in the diagnosis of ADHD between men and women could be related to historical gender roles in hunting and gathering societies.

The video encourages viewers to consider alternative perspectives on ADHD and its potential evolutionary benefits.

An affiliate link to Tom Hartman's book is provided for further exploration of the theory presented in the video.

Transcripts

in today's day and age ADHD is often

labeled as a learning disability because

that one kid who keeps talking whilst he

should be listening surely can't be

picking up a learning essentials the

same way as its normal peers right in

today's day and age a learning

disability is most of the time

synonymous with not being able to be

successful in life since in order to get

a good job you need a degree which

showcases your abilities a person with

ADHD simply has a completely different

brain with different functions than a

person without ADHD but why where did

ADHD actually come from and is it really

a disorder perhaps no disorder is more

prevalent and misdiagnosed today an

attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

or ADHD children with ADHD are a little

bit different the origin of the

condition might be evolutionary yes she

was very fidgety couldn't sit still

we've lived in hunting-gathering worlds

and we've lived in agricultural worlds

there may be a whole range of things

that we can do to manage ADHD it may be

behavioral therapy counseling may be

recommended welcome to our team looks

good

presenting ADHD by ADHD if it's your

first time here and you're someone with

ADHD why don't you consider subscribing

if you're not sure you have ADHD check

out my video on how to identify it back

to the point attention deficit

hyperactivity disorder that's what ADHD

stands for if you didn't know it but

what exactly is a disorder anyway

according to the definition a disorder

is generally speaking a disruption of

the systemic functioning of something in

other words scholars believe that our

brain is not functioning the way it's

supposed to

in the early 20th century ADHD was

thought to be a byproduct of drinking

when pregnant a theory that was soon

debunked luckily since the parents of

the child with ADHD were found to most

frequently also have ADHD but if ADHD is

really a sickness or disorder it's

pretty widespread seeing his estimates

range from about 340 to 500 million

people in the world having ADHD this is

ADHD so widespread where did it come

from

well according to Thom Hartmann humans

with ADHD have inherited the genetics

from their ancestors the hunters and

gatherers let's go back a few ten

thousand years back then we were a

handful of humans living on this big

blue planet there's different estimates

suggesting that we were only a few

million souls these few million souls

were scattered all across the world in

small groups generally known as hunters

and farmers now before I start if you

please be sure you're able to handle the

truth now why are we the people with

ADHD hunters well for one hunters had to

be in constant control of their

environments and something like a bear

or a lion could dart out of a bush

within milliseconds trying to make the

hunter its dinner

and turn the hunters brain learned to

recognize every little twig snap or leaf

movement come with me if you want to

live this is the reason for people with

ADHD suffering under constant

distractions a few thousand years ago

those distractions could have saved our

lives whereas now they have outgrown

their time reason number two hunters

were able to focus on their hunt for

hours I have come here to chew bubblegum

and kick ass

and I'm all out of bubble in order to

provide for the whole camp Hunter's had

to invest a lot of time into their hunt

which required lots of long focus

especially in seasons like the winter

where there wasn't much food to be found

this correlates with the fact that

people with ADHD are able to hyper focus

on things that spark our interest for

hours reason number three hunters had to

be able to make very fast decisions

since the hunt required the sathan

hunters had to be flexible and quickly

switch up their strategy when for

instance coming under attack from a bear

where most people would just freeze up

the hunters brain was able to make

lightning-fast decisions ensuring his

survival people with ADHD are notorious

for having this ability we make lots of

unguided impulsive decisions not

overthinking the long-term implications

like ordering a pizza or saying stupid

[ __ ] that doesn't sound as funny out

loud as it did in our heads yeah I'm not

sure that's not a good in his head

reason number four hunters had to think

visually to be successful in their hunt

big equations or abstract theories

didn't help them in order to learn they

had to see how something is done I can

definitely relate to this since instead

of going through my textbook for the

third time to study for an exam I

usually started watching YouTube videos

about that topic I was always better in

learning things visually this is one of

the reasons for starting this YouTube

channel reason number five hunters are

able to invest a lot of energy into

their hunt people with ADHD often have

an explosive energy which they can

release in a moment's notice that's my

secret

I'm always angry reason number six

hunters loved the hunt but got bored

easily when it came to doing chores like

cleaning the house again this is so

relatable for people with ADHD since we

hate doing things that don't spark our

interest I now confer show me reason

number seven Hunter's took on risks that

farmers didn't want to take on people

with ADHD are notorious for being risk

takers we do things that others can't or

don't want to do and lastly hunters are

hard on themselves and on people in

their environment since the hunters own

life depended on fast decision making

the level for frustration and patience

was very low if a hunter doesn't manage

to dodge a bullet for instance it could

mean as death people with ADHD are also

often very hard on themselves and on

people often leading to depressive

thoughts thinking of they're a bad

person this amongst other things is a

reason for why people with ADHD are

often misunderstood just because we're

hard on people doesn't mean we mean them

anything bad 10,000 years ago we might

have saved their lives to conclude

because the ancient world required more

farmers than hunters hunters are now

living in a world mostly constructed for

farmers this is why they're often

misunderstood as to not being viable in

today's society because we don't fit the

status quo being a hunter is classified

as to having a disorder because we

behave disorderly in comparison to the

majority of the normal population you

want to be a farmer here's a couple of

acres now if you've never heard of this

theory just look at other examples for

when humans developed genetic

deformities that actually helped them

this theory would also explain the

discrepancy of the amount of men versus

the amount of women diagnosed with

having ADHD since back then most women

didn't go hunting

anyway if this theory isn't true it

might be a tumor it's not a tumor thank

you so much for watching if I managed to

open your eyes leave me like to show me

how many of you are managed to reach

today if you want to know more about

this theory

I will leave an affiliate Amazon link to

the book of Tom Hartman in the

description below also check out my ADHD

motivation video featuring Will Smith

and don't forget to subscribe and click

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