Life History Theory and Evolutionary Psychology

Chapter 2 Life History Theory and Evolutionary Psychology Hillard S. Kaplan, Hillard S. KaplanSearch for more papers by this authorSteven W. Gangestad, Steven W. GangestadSearch for more papers by this author Hillard S. Kaplan, Hillard S. KaplanSearch for more papers by this authorSteven W. Gangestad, Steven W. GangestadSearch for more papers by this author Book Editor(s):David M. Buss, David M. BussSearch for more papers by this author First published: 05 September 2015 https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470939376.ch2Citations: 26 AboutPDFPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShareShare a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Summary This chapter provides an overview of life history theory (LHT). LHT conceptualizes specific allocation tradeoffs in terms of three broad, fundamental trade-offs: the present-future reproduction trade-off, the quantity-quality of offspring trade-off, and the tradeoff between mating effort and parenting effort. The chapter then considers specific applications of LHT to an understanding of the human life course. The topics concerning human life histories are the evolution of large brains, development and childhood, and aging. The chapter argues for ways in which LHT can and should be infused into evolutionary psychology. Over the past 40 years, evolutionary biology has witnessed a tremendous explosion in understanding of adaptations, particularly as they relate to behavior. A key foundation of these developments is economic cost-benefit analysis of selection pressures. LHT is not a particular domain of cost-benefit analysis; rather, it is a broad, overarching perspective within which understanding of adaptation must ultimately be situated. Citing Literature The Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology RelatedInformation