Most people wouldn't see a parallel between the plover's behaviour and human behaviour. But according to Albert Demaret, analogical thinking shows us that the opposite is true. In fact, the plover may be compared to a hysteric(2). What do hysterics do? They constantly draw attention to themselves, are loud, keep hogging the limelight, are histrionic, exuberant, engage in permanent blackmail, etc.  "When we are aware of the plover's broken wing tactic, we can't help but make an analogy and ask ourselves: ‘Deep down, what is this woman's nest, what is she trying to protect?’ Looking at the situation from this angle offers the clinician enormous possibilities. However, the idea is not to ascribe voluntary intent to this behaviour (is the hysteric hiding something intentionally?), but rather to understand its function," explains the ULg psychologist.

Gaddafi and Kim Jong-un

As co-authors of the introduction to the new edition of Ethology and Psychiatry, as well as the Essai Psychopathologie Éthologique that follows, Jérôme Englebert and Valérie Follet warn against conflating the ethologist’s approach to that of an evolutionist. In "human-animal" analogies, the behaviour is observed, while "human-ancestral human" analogies can only be re-created after the fact based on environmental and contextual factors. With this caveat, Jérôme Englebert raises the hypothesis that schizoid or paranoid behaviours may sometimes help individuals achieve leadership positions. Gaddafi and his delusional speech is one striking example, while the sinister North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un is another.

"In the first groups of humans and within ancestral societies, distinguishing themselves from others through disconcerting remarks (such as claiming that they communicated with a god or God) was likely a way of ensuring that they were listened to and became the leader of the group,” indicates the psychologist. "Contrary to shamans in traditional societies, isn’t a schizophrenic a kind of leader without a group, a king without a kingdom?"

The reason Albert Demaret's theories still seem relevant today is due in part to the fact that his way of understanding mental illness was completely compatible with the genetic hypothesis, which is being recognized more and more through the concept of vulnerability genes, among others. As opposed to what some may assume, Demaret was in no way seeking to undermine scientific rigour, nor was he advocating for a form of radical anti-psychiatry. He saw knowledge, technique, and methodology as the building blocks of therapeutic treatment, but believed that the psychotherapist must also be willing to put these aside to remain open to clinical phenomena that may arise, as each individual is a unique and complex being.

(2) Not listed in the DSM as such, hysteria a personality disorder made famous by Freud’s work in particular.