Development and Families

Psychology 3196

It takes a village…

• Oh how nice, yes we all get together and raise the children communally…

• Umm, actually it takes a village of relatives– In the EEA we lived in family groups

Families

• Basically kin• The idea of groups of relatives that stay

together after sexual maturity• Helpers at the nest• Plus reciprocal altruism

Parent Offspring Conflict

• If there is investment, the offspring would like it to go on forever, the parents, eventually want to have more babies

• OK, look at this genetically, the mother and daughter/son share .5 of their genes

• At some point, the mother would be better served by having another child.

Parent offspring conflict• The conflict continues until the

parental cost = 2 x the benefits to the offspring

• Then, it is in the best interests of the parent and the kid to have another kid show up

• Not just the continuation of investment, but also the amount can be a bone of contention

Sibling rivalry

• Well you share .5 of your genes with your brother or sister, but 1.0 with yourself

• Monozygotic twins should be nicer to each other than dizygotic twins are

• Data are not too clear here

sharing

• Makes sense to teach your kids to be nice• Especially to relatives• However also to strangers in the right

situation• Good for you and your kids

Infanticide

• Depressing…• Common practice• If infant is not viable or if mother is very

young, has little resources• Again, please remember the naturalistic

fallacy

Parental conflict

• Certainty of paternity• Stepchildren• More abuse to adopted kids• We should be able to predict what the most

common grounds for divorce are

Divorce

• Infidelity and infertility• Cross cultural• Best bet for both if there is either of these it

to leave

Development

• Attachment• Separation anxiety appears right where it

ought to• Why are kids kids?• They have lots to learn– Social development– cognitive

Stop being such a baby

• Good that kids are the way they are• Makes them practice• Makes them proud of little accomplishments• Basically self deception!

Social Clock

• Leaving, having kids, marrying etc• Parents push kids out, usually• Makes sense• Grief for lost kids is greatest at about 11 or 12• Fits well with the EEA and NOT now

conclusions

• Our ideas about families and development need to be revamped

• Arguments can be understood with this perspective, perhaps help some people

• Kids are not little adults