The ÆPT take on the evolutionary energy patterning tendency:
The most basic and general ÆPT meaning of "evolution" is what happens from when a first and most simple possible energy-matter pattern condenses in a Universe that allows the formation of subsequent energy-matter patterns with successively increased functural complexity.
In contrast, a devolutionary change brings about a decreased functural complexity. For example, when a member nation of the EU exits then this union (hierarchical organization) undergoes a (minor) devolutionary change.
Even if it is not in all cases possible to compare and determine the difference in functural complexity between different biological patterns (e.g. different species of animals) 'it is ÆPT' to make a distinction between evolutionary and devolutionary changes.
The primary (leading) evolutionary energy-patterning changes are constructive, but evolution also involves secondary (trailing) functure destroying but nonetheless sometimes 'evolution assisting'=an assistance that is most easily noted to be of importance in an era of biologic evolution because erasure or natural pruning of enregy-matter patterns then prevents over-crowding and clogging of living-spaces.
Other than that biological evolution is assisted by deaths (unpatterning events) the era when all forms of non-biologic/non-living matter evolved did of course also involve instances in which existent energy-matter patterns decayed and ceased to exist.
From the main ÆPT perspective (i.e. an evolutionary psychophysiology type perspective primarily concerned with us humans) it appears that the phylogeny of biological energy-matter patterns has, generally considered, involved lifetime factors (or challenges) that have been
1. procreation promoting Opportunities
2. procreation preventing Threats.
However, it is especially ÆPT to recognize and put an emphasis on "the ÆPT heuristic" that 1. Opportunities and 2. threats of SHI-type come CURSES, have exerted selection pressures together.
It follows from this "ÆPT heuristic" (and it is 'ÆPT to recognize') that in the case of the phylogeny of us humans the result of this overlap (combination) of selection pressures of CURSES-type and evolutionary/selection pressures of Opportunity type has been that much of our beliefs behaviors/affairs/preoccupations can be aptly (are ÆPTly) denoted as EAVASIVE — or, to put it conventionally, hence with less in-depth or relatively shallow meaning and derogatory undertone: much of human behaviors and proccupations are neurotically motivated (or co-motivated).
From the perspective that spans the emergence and end of our universe, evolution (as ÆPTly meant and defined) can be described as an energy-matter-patterning process that started-off by resulting in a least complex but most ubiquitous possible 'functural matter-energy pattern' followed by the emergence of successively less ubiquitous but increasingly complex energy-matter patterns.