Education Commons^™

Adhd: Maladaptive Disorder Or Evolutionary Adaptation, Jeremiah Hopes

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder influences disruptive behavior, school suspensions, and at times, even criminal behavior. Despite its maladaptive nature, evolutionary psychology introduces the possibility that ADHD once served a purpose to humanity. This presentation will examine research that presents the symptoms of ADHD as adaptive rather than maladaptive, analyze the implications of viewing inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity as strengths, and discuss how parents, teachers, helping professionals, school administrators, and physicians can use this information to assist children impacted by ADHD.