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Is contemporary grandparental care an evolutionary mismatch?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 April 2010

Harald A. Euler
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychology, Department of Economics, University of Kassel, 34127 Kassel, Germany. euler@uni-kassel.dehttp://www.psychologie.uni-kassel.de/indexpers.htm

Abstract

In order to evaluate the impact of contemporary grandparenting, the view should not be restricted to developmental achievement effects in grandchildren. Both child happiness and grandparent happiness are high-ranking goals with implications for public policy. The beneficial impact of grandparenting for risk families appears unequivocal, and modern life still encounters all kinds of unpredictable risks. Contemporary grandparental care is no evolutionary mismatch.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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