Definition
Evolutionary mismatch is the phenomenon in which the environments modern humans inhabit differ substantially from the environments in which our nervous systems evolved, producing predictable dysregulation.
Why it matters
Naming mismatch prevents blaming individuals for maladaptations that are, in significant part, environmental.
The Science
Modern diet, sedentariness, artificial light, chronic novelty, social media, and pace-of-change have all been proposed as mismatch sources. Some hypotheses are well supported (diet, activity, sleep), others more speculative.
The NSI Perspective
NSI treats mismatch as one useful framework among several — not a total explanation.
Clinical Implications
Environmental redesign for individuals and communities is legitimate care — not lifestyle moralism.
Practical Application
You are running ancient hardware in an unusual environment. Some of your struggles are not personal defects — they are mismatches.
References
- 1.Lieberman DE. The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, and Disease. Pantheon; 2013.