Citation

Volk T, Atkinson J. J. Soc. Evol. Cult. Psychol. 2008; 2(4, Spec Iss): 247-260.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Northeastern Evolutionary Psychology Society, Publisher American Psychological Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Child death has played an important role in the evolution of humans. Of all stages of development, and at all historical times beyond Modern history, childhood has been associated with the highest levels of mortality. Compared to other evolutionary pressures such as surviving as an adult or finding a mate and having children, the odds of genetic failure (i.e., failure to directly contribute to one's genetic line) are greatest in childhood. The enormous potential evolutionary pressure exerted by child death should have significantly influenced human psychological adaptations. Despite this potential influence, child death may be one of the least studied influences on human evolutionary psychology. This paper discusses the historical rates of child mortality, the relative odds associated with passing on one's genes, adult mental adaptations to child mortality, and child mental adaptations to child mortality. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract)