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Rank theory is an evolutionary theory of depression, developed by Anthony Stevens and John Price, which proposes that depression promotes the survival of genes. The theory posits that depression is an adaptive response to losing status and losing confidence in the ability to regain it. The adaptive function of the depression is to change behaviour to promote survival for someone who has been defeated. According to rank theory, depression was naturally selected to allow us to accept a subordinate role. The function of this depressive adaptation is to prevent the loser from suffering further defeat in a conflict.

In the face of defeat, a behavioural process swings into action which causes the individual to cease competing and reduce their ambitions. This process is involuntary and results in the loss of energy, depressed mood, sleep disturbance, poor appetite, and loss of confidence, which are typical characteristics of depression. The outward symptoms of depression (facial expressions, constant crying, etc.) signal to others that the loser is not fit to compete, and they also discourage others from attempting to restore the loser's rank.

This acceptance of a lower rank would serve to stabilise an ancestral human community, promoting the survival of any individual (or individual's genes) in the community through affording protection from other human groups, retaining access to resources, and to mates. The adaptive function of accepting a lower rank is twofold: first, it ensures that the loser truly yields and does not attempt to make a comeback, and second, the loser reassures the winner that yielding has truly taken place, so that the conflict ends, with no further damage to the loser. Social harmony is then restored.

Development

Rank theory of depression, initially known as the 'social competition hypothesis', is based on ethological theories of signalling: in order to avoid death or serious injuries, animals will perform 'appeasement displays' to demonstrate their subordination and lack of desire to engage in further competition. Additionally, rank theory attempts to explain the link between low socioeconomic status and depression through a psychosocial lens.

John Price formulated rank theory after noticing that monkeys became uncommunicative following a competitive loss (e.g. relating to food, allies, or mates). He proposed that humans similarly submit in competitive situations in order to induce reconciliation. By submitting to their opponent, losers allow a new hierarchy to form, strengthening social cohesion and group stability. Depression is therefore an ritualistic behaviour which fulfils an adaptive function: the loser is able to escape physical injury by signalling that they are no longer a threat. This adaptive strategy has been called "Involuntary Defeat Strategy" (IDS) to clarify that losers may demonstrate submissiveness to victors using other strategies, which have not been linked to depression. Although, historically, the Involuntary Defeat Strategy may have also prevented the loss of further material resources (e.g. food, shelter), evolutionary psychologists argue that this explanation is still applicable to modern societies, where humans compete on resources such as attractiveness and competency.

Application to symptoms

Figure 1: The adaptive and maladaptive cycles resulting from agonistic (hierarchical) encounters.

Unlike other evolutionary explanations of depression, rank theory is able to explain why depression is incapacitating: by functioning as a substitute for physical damage, incapacitation prevents the 'loser' from posing a threat to the competitor they challenged. Moreover, rank theory aligns with Beck's cognitive triad, which proposes that depressed individuals suffer cognitive distortions which result in pessimistic beliefs about the world, the future, and themselves. Rank theory explains this pessimism by arguing that 'losers' with low expectations about their abilities are less likely to engage in competition, because they are not optimistic about their chances. The explanation also accounts for common symptoms (e.g. apathy, loss of interest, anhedonia) by arguing they evolved as a form of harm-avoidance .

Psychologists such as Paul Gilbert have sought to explain the differences between depressive states following competition and major depression. Gilbert has suggested that depression resulting from the Involuntary Defeat Strategy is a short-term condition, which may become more serious due to external events (e.g. if the victor ignores the loser's desire for reconciliation) or internal events (e.g. excessive rumination, not being able to accept their new social rank).

One factor which particularly contributes to IDS becoming major depression is arrested flight. When individuals are unable to flee from the dangerous situation, for instance due to being in an abusive household, this 'entrapment' may intensify the depressive symptoms, making the condition long-term. If the 'de-escalation strategies' used by the loser are overexaggerated, this may result in symptoms such as brooding anger, social anxiety, and excessively low self-esteem. Thus, proponents of rank theory argue that depression, like vomiting, can become maladaptive when the defence mechanism, designed for the short-term, is overused (see Figure 1).

Prevalence in adolescence

Rank theorists has also suggested an explanation to account for high depression rates in teenagers. As competition for social approval and popularity is particularly salient amongst teenage peer relations, adolescents may emphasise social comparison more. By linking this with attachment theory, which posits that childhood can lead to 'secure' or 'insecure' attachments, rank theorists propose that children with insecure attachment enter the highly socially competitive dynamic of adolescence feeling more anxious, submissive or craving a dominant role. Due to fixating on social rank, these adolescents are more sensitive to social competition and are thus more likely to over-use involuntary defence strategies, resulting in a higher likelihood of depression.

Therapeutic implications

Although not intended to become a new 'school of therapy', rank theory has been used to propose changes to existing therapeutic interventions for depression such as cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic treatment, and the biological model:

• Status-changing: Treating depressed individuals as high-status may reduce their self-perception of inferiority
• Preventing rumination: Assisting clients in recognising their virtues and self-worth can reduce the likelihood of Involuntary Defence Strategies developing into major depression
• Assertiveness: Teaching individuals to stand up for themselves and take challenges step-by-step may prevent accumulations of rage and encourage coping with anger more healthily
• Strategy-switching: Showing clients that they submit too quickly or not quickly enough (because they don't recognise the vulnerability of their position) may help individuals avoid misusing the IDS

Criticism

The paradoxical power of the depressed patient: a problem for the ranking theory of depression - PubMed (nih.gov)