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Childhood Experience, Interpersonal Development, and Reproductive Strategy: An Evolutionary Theory of Socialization
Author(s) -
Belsky Jay,
Steinberg Laurence,
Draper Patricia
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
child development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.103
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1467-8624
pISSN - 0009-3920
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8624.1991.tb01558.x
Subject(s) - socialization , psychology , developmental psychology , developmental stage theories , interpersonal communication , interpersonal relationship , social learning theory , social psychology , human sexuality , child development , early childhood , ethology , reproductive success , ecology , sociology , population , gender studies , demography , biology
The concept of “reproductive strategy” drawn from the field of behavioral ecology is applied to the study of childhood experience and interpersonal development in order to develop an evolutionary theory of socialization. The theory is presented in terms of 2 divergent development pathways considered to promote reproductive success in the contexts in which they have arisen. One is characterized, in childhood, by a stressful rearing environment and the development of insecure attachments to parents and subsequent behavior problems; in adolescence by early pubertal development and precocious sexuality; and, in adulthood, by unstable pair bonds and limited investment in child rearing, whereas the other is characterized by the opposite. The relation between this theory and prevailing theories of socialization, specifically, attachment, social‐learning, and discrete‐emotions theory, is considered and research consistent with our evolutionary theory is reviewed. Finally, directions for future research are discussed.