Depression May Provide Cognitive Advantages 512
Hugh Pickens writes "Paul W. Andrews and J. Anderson Thomson, Jr. argue in Scientific American that although depression is considered a mental disorder, depression may in fact be a mental adaptation which provides real benefits. This is not to say that depression is not a problem. Depressed people often have trouble performing everyday activities, they can't concentrate on their work, they tend to socially isolate themselves, they are lethargic, and they often lose the ability to take pleasure from such activities such as eating and sex. So what could be so useful about depression? 'Depressed people often think intensely about their problems,' write the authors. 'These thoughts are called ruminations; they are persistent and depressed people have difficulty thinking about anything else. Numerous studies have also shown that this thinking style is often highly analytical. They dwell on a complex problem, breaking it down into smaller components, which are considered one at a time.' Various studies have found that people in depressed mood states are better at solving social dilemmas and there is evidence that people who get more depressed while they are working on complex problems in an intelligence test tend to score higher on the test (PDF). 'When one considers all the evidence, depression seems less like a disorder where the brain is operating in a haphazard way, or malfunctioning. Instead, depression seems more like the vertebrate eye — an intricate, highly organized piece of machinery that performs a specific function.'"
it makes sense (Score:4, Funny)
Wait, so my depression is good? (Score:5, Funny)
I can't escape... (Score:4, Funny)
woo hoo! (Score:5, Funny)
I've been struggling with a real tough problem, and getting more and more depressed.
Now I read this, and I have hope of solving it! woo hoo!
I can't tell you how happy I am!
wait....
Re:I can't escape... (Score:2, Funny)
Oh shit, forgot where I was. Sorry man, you're screwed.
Re:wait... (Score:5, Funny)
Not every depressed person drifts to suicide. Some of us just become miserable cynical bastards.
Kind of like Goth vs Emo - one wants to kill you, while the other wants to kill himself.
Re:Reverse causation (Score:5, Funny)
I agree! Last time we met, I was thinking that I wish I were as dumb as you. Sure, you're smarter than a lot of people (and therefore moderately happy) but if I had your meager intelligence, I would be so much happier than I am now.
Re:it makes sense (Score:3, Funny)
I think you ought to know I'm feeling very depressed.
Re:wait... (Score:4, Funny)
Yes. I'm being snarky. I also happen to have a 148 IQ and have been diagnosed with clinical depression, so don't anyone mod me down for being insensitive to the smarty-pants depressasaurouses. I am one of them.
Re:Wait, so my depression is good? (Score:4, Funny)
I think we've made a breakthrough.
Sweet (Score:4, Funny)
Nobel prize, here I come.
Re:wait... (Score:5, Funny)
Jesus Christ, those are the two choices?
Fuck.
New way to crack JEE. (Score:3, Funny)
Re:It's Considered a Mental Disorder *NOW*... (Score:4, Funny)
Let me try this out. (Score:4, Funny)
I'm currently doing a very complicated documentation job about a system I've not worked on previously (its essentially been abandoned and I have to put together what they've done so it can be continued). I'm going to put on a few Radiohead tracks and see if it gets any easier.
Re:I can't escape... (Score:4, Funny)
I would have modded it +1 Suicidal
Vertebrate eye? (Score:1, Funny)
I don't want an eye with vertebrae. I'll stick with the beam.
Re:Wait, so my depression is good? (Score:3, Funny)
when i start feeling down, i just take a look at my de- motivational [despair.com] posters and remember, it can always be worse.
oh yeah, great... (Score:1, Funny)
...but it's not new.
Human yet knows that for ages, i.e in TaoÃsm that's what is called "contemplation" (the same word very takes sense at least in french)
It's a constructive and no-productive (hehe) part of life that aims in understanding how the world rolls. Do you remember opium smokers ?
I think science mainly usefull to formerly validate what we unconsciously already know.. great..
it's joyful, but it's really not new for me.
I also happen to have a 148 IQ
Yeh, me 2, I are 940 IQ end I haz been diagnosed clinicly dead
Re:This is a surprise? (Score:1, Funny)
As an emmissary from the OCD camp, I hereby demand a study of our brains as well. Sure, we go raging and lose our sense of reality when some shmuck at the grocery store moves the raisins from the nut aisle to the candy aisle (where they don't goddamn belong!), but we're just as smart as those emo kids. Now get off my lawn before you move one blade of grass and I have to brush it all over again.
Re:Wait, so my depression is good? (Score:4, Funny)
that sort of makes me happy (Score:2, Funny)
Re:Wait, so my depression is good? (Score:3, Funny)
I got asked once, if I would prefer to live intelligently in a prison knowing I was in one, or stupidly in the same place not knowing what it was. I would choose the latter.
Well, I guess a dumb person wouldn't know how to answer this question because it's way too complex. Or it really doesn't matter, since you would be in a prison anyway.
I understand this (Score:3, Funny)
I get soooo depressed whenever I attempt to solve the problem of how to get Noureen DeWulf, Jessica Alba and Rose McGowen into bed (either individually or all at the same time).
Any help out there appreciated.....
Re:Reverse causation (Score:3, Funny)
I'm noting a distinct lack of details to this "making 'fuck you' money" idea. I'm guessing there's a ????? somewhere in the business plan, though.