[elcritch]

I have a hunch that this conservatism problem is why ADHD genes / traits remain so prevalent. The percentage of populations with it is around 5% and remarkably consistent across drastically different cultures.

The reason is that those with ADHD are often physiologically incapable of not pursuing an interest. Often those interest lie in novel areas. It’s unfortunate for those with the traits, but a net benefit for society.

So there’s a game theory equilibrium wherein successful societies will retain a certain percentage of those genes or become too conservative.

[Brigand]

Traits that are not beneficial to the individual will die out, the kind of group selection this process would require is implausible at best.

I would assume that the kind of personality your are referring to is adaptive for the individual as well, especially the mild variants.

[elcritch]

> Traits that are not beneficial to the individual will die out

Not necessarily, examples from several species where males get eaten after mating would seem to counter that. In some the males try to escape if possible to mate again.

> the kind of group selection this process would require is implausible at best.

There can certainly be group theory optimums that are less beneficial for individuals but beneficial enough to the whole group that traits bad for an individual will persist. I’d say bees dying after stinging an intruder would be an example. Well or even the hive principle where only the queen reproduces.

Still I would agree that the mild variations of adhd traits can be beneficial to some individuals. At least enough to largely eliminate the traits despite being largely maladaptive in non-nomadic societies given that we’re not hive creatures. One example I’ve read was a paper that showed increased offspring in individuals with adhd traits in nomadic tribes in Africa, with decreased reproductive rates in adjacent non-nomadic tribes.

Our modern society is odd in that it’s not like either traditional society. ADHD traits can be very beneficial for individuals in technology careers requiring creativity while simultaneously being painful due to society being largely optimized for non-adhd neurotypes.