Evolutionary theory and the human family
- PMID:9407672
- DOI: 10.1086/419953
Evolutionary theory and the human family
Abstract
Emlen's (1995) paper "An evolutionary theory of the family" reviewed existing ideas about the nature of family systems and the reasons why they have evolved in certain animal species. His theorizing led him to propose 15 predictions about how family systems function, based on favorable evidence from various species, mostly birds. While he suggested that these predictions can be applied to the human case, he himself did not attempt to do so. We consider the applicability of Emlen's 15 predictions to the study of human family systems, and find that several aspects of the life history and ecology of Homo sapiens require that they be modified. These considerations include: (1) the importance of intragroup solidarity in the context of intergroup competition: unlike in many other species where dispersal constraints arise from food or breeding site shortages, the primary pressure driving human sociality seems to be competition from other human groups; (2) the complex nature of exchange and reciprocity in human society: reciprocal altruism in particular is integral to human social interaction and leads to a particularly high degree of non-nepotistic helping behavior; and (3) the implications of menopause and the existence of potentially dominant, postreproductive helpers: helpers of this sort have little incentive to disperse or to encourage offspring to disperse, thus greatly increasing family stability.
Similar articles
- Individual dispersal delays in a cooperative breeder: Ecological constraints, the benefits of philopatry and the social queue for dominance.Nelson-Flower MJ, Wiley EM, Flower TP, Ridley AR.Nelson-Flower MJ, et al.J Anim Ecol. 2018 Sep;87(5):1227-1238. doi: 10.1111/1365-2656.12814. Epub 2018 Mar 20.J Anim Ecol. 2018.PMID:29560614
- The human mind: building bridges between neuroscience and psychiatry.Strumwasser F.Strumwasser F.Psychiatry. 2003 Spring;66(1):22-31. doi: 10.1521/psyc.66.1.22.20282.Psychiatry. 2003.PMID:12710227
- Compassion and altruism in psychoanalytic theory: an evolutionary analysis of self psychology.Kriegman D.Kriegman D.J Am Acad Psychoanal. 1990 Summer;18(2):342-67. doi: 10.1521/jaap.1.1990.18.2.342.J Am Acad Psychoanal. 1990.PMID:2387765
- The concepts of asymmetric and symmetric power can help resolve the puzzle of altruistic and cooperative behaviour.Phillips T.Phillips T.Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc. 2018 Feb;93(1):457-468. doi: 10.1111/brv.12352. Epub 2017 Jul 11.Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc. 2018.PMID:28699275Review.
- The evolution of delayed dispersal in cooperative breeders.Koenig WD, Pitelka FA, Carmen WJ, Mumme RL, Stanback MT.Koenig WD, et al.Q Rev Biol. 1992 Jun;67(2):111-50. doi: 10.1086/417552.Q Rev Biol. 1992.PMID:1635976Review.
Cited by
- Inequality in the household and rural-urban migration in Ethiopian farmers.Clech L, Jones JH, Gibson M.Clech L, et al.Evol Hum Sci. 2020 Apr 24;2:e9. doi: 10.1017/ehs.2020.10. eCollection 2020.Evol Hum Sci. 2020.PMID:37588363Free PMC article.
- A Theory for the Origin of Human Menopause.Takahashi M, Singh RS, Stone J.Takahashi M, et al.Front Genet. 2017 Jan 6;7:222. doi: 10.3389/fgene.2016.00222. eCollection 2016.Front Genet. 2017.PMID:28111590Free PMC article.
- Why do family firms dismiss their family CEOs? A perspective on kinship ties.Yu X, Sun S, Cheng X, Lin Y, Li H.Yu X, et al.PLoS One. 2023 May 4;18(5):e0285029. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285029. eCollection 2023.PLoS One. 2023.PMID:37141229Free PMC article.
- Genetic and cultural kinship among the Lamaleran whale hunters.Alvard M.Alvard M.Hum Nat. 2011 Jul;22(1-2):89-107. doi: 10.1007/s12110-011-9104-x.Hum Nat. 2011.PMID:22388802
- Sexual Selection and the Treatment of Predecessors' Progeny by Replacement Mates.Daly M, Perry G.Daly M, et al.Front Psychol. 2022 Jun 13;13:924238. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.924238. eCollection 2022.Front Psychol. 2022.PMID:35769745Free PMC article.Review.