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Grandparental investment and the epiphenomenon of menopause in recent human history

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 April 2010

Douglas C. Broadfield
Douglas C. Broadfield
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431. broadfie@fau.edu
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Abstract

The effects of grandparental investment in relatives are apparent in human groups, suggesting that a postreproductive period in humans is selective. Although investment of relatives in kin produces obvious benefits for kin groups, selection for a postreproductive period in humans is not supported by evidence from chimpanzees. Instead, grandparental investment is likely a recent phenomenon of longevity, rather than an evolved feature.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 33 , Issue 1 , February 2010 , pp. 19 - 20
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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