Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-dnltx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T17:14:52.255Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Parasite stress, ethnocentrism, and life history strategy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2012

Aurelio José Figueredo ,
Paul Robert Gladden  and
Candace Jasmine Black
Aurelio José Figueredo
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, and School of Mind, Brain, and Behavior, College of Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0068. ajf@u.arizona.eduhttp://www.u.arizona.edu/~ajfcjblack@email.arizona.eduhttp://www.u.arizona.edu/~cjblack
Paul Robert Gladden
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and Sociology, Macon State College, Macon, GA 31206. paul.gladden@maconstate.eduhttp://vista.maconstate.edu/directory/detailsprint.aspx?id=612
Candace Jasmine Black
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, and School of Mind, Brain, and Behavior, College of Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0068. ajf@u.arizona.eduhttp://www.u.arizona.edu/~ajfcjblack@email.arizona.eduhttp://www.u.arizona.edu/~cjblack
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Fincher & Thornhill (F&T) present a compelling argument that parasite stress underlies certain cultural practices promoting assortative sociality. However, we suggest that the theoretical framework proposed is limited in several ways, and that life history theory provides a more explanatory and inclusive framework, making more specific predictions about the trade-offs faced by organisms in the allocation of bioenergetic and material resources.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 35 , Issue 2 , April 2012 , pp. 87 - 88
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Allport, G. (1954) The nature of prejudice. Perseus.Google Scholar
Andrzejczak, D. J., Jones, D. N., Smith, V., Montero, E. & Figueredo, A. J. (2007) Ethnocentrism and life history strategy. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society, Williamsburg, Virginia, 30 May–3 June 2007 [in the session “Correlates of life history strategy” chaired by A. J. Figueredo].Google Scholar
Brewer, M. B. (1999) The psychology of prejudice: Ingroup love or outgroup hate? Journal of Social Issues 55:429–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brewer, M. B. & Campbell, D. T. (1976) Ethnocentrism and intergroup attitudes: East African evidence. Sage.Google Scholar
Ellis, B. J., Figueredo, A. J., Brumbach, B. H. & Schlomer, G. L. (2009) Mechanisms of environmental risk: The impact of harsh versus unpredictable environments on the evolution and development of life history strategies. Human Nature 20:204–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eppig, C., Fincher, C. L. & Thornhill, R. (2010) Parasite prevalence and the worldwide distribution of cognitive ability. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B. 277(1701):3801–808.Google ScholarPubMed
Figueredo, A. J., Andrezejczak, D. J., Jones, D. N. & Smith-Castro, V. (2011a) Reproductive strategy and ethnic conflict: Slow life history as a protective factor against negative ethnocentrism in two contemporary societies. Journal of Social, Evolutionary and Cultural Psychology 5(1):14–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Figueredo, A. J., Gladden, P. R. & Hohman, Z. (2011b) The evolutionary psychology of criminal behavior. In: Applied evolutionary psychology, ed. Roberts, S. C.. Chapt. 13, pp. 201–221. Oxford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Figueredo, A. J., Vásquez, G., Brumbach, B. H. & Schneider, S. M. R. (2007) The K-factor, covitality, and personality: A psychometric test of life history theory. Human Nature 18(1):47–73.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Figueredo, A. J. & Wolf, P. S. A. (2009) Assortative pairing and life history strategy: A cross-cultural study. Human Nature 20:317–330.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gladden, P. R. (2010) Life history strategy, morality, and disease avoidance. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society, Eugene, Oregon, May 27–31, 2010, in the session on “Life History Strategy and Cognitive Functions,” chaired by A. J. Figueredo.Google Scholar
Gladden, P. R., Welch, J., Figueredo, A. J. & Jacobs, W. J. (2009) Moral intuitions and religiosity as spuriously correlated life history traits. Journal of Evolutionary Psychology 7(2):167–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gottfredson, M. R. & Hirschi, T. (1990) A general theory of crime. Stanford University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jones, D. J., Figueredo, A. J., Andrzejczak, D. J., Smith-Castro, V. & Montero-Rojas, E. (submitted) Ethnocentrism and life history strategy.Google Scholar
MacDonald, K. M., Figueredo, A. J., Wenner, C. & Howrigan, D. (2007) Life history strategy, executive functions, and personality. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society, Williamsburg, Virginia, June 16–20, 2007 [in the session “Correlates of life history strategy” chaired by A. J. Figueredo].Google Scholar
Sumner, W. G. (1906) Folkways. Ginn.Google Scholar
Thornhill, R. (2010) Margo Wilson's research continues to inspire new investigations of homicide. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society, Eugene, Oregon. In Plenary Session in Honor of Margo Wilson.Google Scholar