Document Detail


Different reproductive strategies in males and females.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  1935338     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The claim for a connection between stressful, unstable childhood environments and early pubertal maturation has only modest empirical support. However, granting the claim for purposes of discussion, and taking an evolutionary perspective, it is argued here that early puberty need not imply a shift from a "quality" toward a "quantity" reproductive strategy. Indeed, for females to make such a shift when they cannot count on secure pair bonding or paternal investment from a male would not serve their inclusive fitness interests; indeed, probably the reverse. Delayed puberty among juveniles with secure, long-continued bonds with the parental generation may serve a different evolutionary function: to minimize inbreeding. Nonevolutionary factors are more than adequate to account for precocious sexuality in individuals with stressful childhood histories.
Authors:
E E Maccoby
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Comment; Comparative Study; Journal Article; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Child development     Volume:  62     ISSN:  0009-3920     ISO Abbreviation:  Child Dev     Publication Date:  1991 Aug 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1991-12-26     Completed Date:  1991-12-26     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0372725     Medline TA:  Child Dev     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  676-81; discussion 682-5     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Stanford University.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Animals
Evolution
Female
Humans
Male
Psychology, Social
Puberty / psychology
Reproduction*
Sex Factors
Sexual Behavior
Sexual Behavior, Animal
Sexual Maturation
Comments/Corrections
Comment On:
Child Dev. 1991 Aug;62(4):647-70   [PMID:  1935336 ]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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