ADHD and The Hunter Gatherer Theory

I came across a video on youtube called 'The Hunter Gatherer theory of ADHD' and found it fascinating.

The theory explains a very different way of thinking about what we often call a disorder; rather than framing ADHD as a set of deficits, the theory suggests that traits we now struggle to fit into modern life with may once have been crucial to human survival!

The idea, often referred to as the Hunter vs Farmer Hypothesis, is that people with ADHD traits were more likely to succeed in hunter gatherer societies. Skills such as scanning the environment for threats, noticing changes quickly, acting on impulse, being drawn to novelty, and responding rapidly to opportunities would all have been vital for hunters. However when agriculture became the dominant way of life, those traits became less adaptive, while patience, routine, and sustained focus were more heavily rewarded.

What this theory teaches us is that ADHD may not be about dysfunction at all, but about context. It asks us to consider whether we are trying to force hunters to live like farmers, and what might happen if instead we created environments where hunter traits could be used as strengths.

This way of thinking can help reduce stigma and open up more constructive conversations about neurodiversity in education, work, and society as a whole.

For anyone who wants to explore further here are some articles I read in Psychology Today: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-biology-of-human-nature/202211/did-adhd-evolve-to-help-us? and https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brain-curiosities/202502/the-hunter-gatherer-brain-of-adhd