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Parasite stress, ethnocentrism, and life history strategy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2012

Aurelio José Figueredo ,
Paul Robert Gladden  and
Candace Jasmine Black
Aurelio José Figueredo
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, and School of Mind, Brain, and Behavior, College of Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0068. ajf@u.arizona.eduhttp://www.u.arizona.edu/~ajfcjblack@email.arizona.eduhttp://www.u.arizona.edu/~cjblack
Paul Robert Gladden
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology and Sociology, Macon State College, Macon, GA 31206. paul.gladden@maconstate.eduhttp://vista.maconstate.edu/directory/detailsprint.aspx?id=612
Candace Jasmine Black
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, and School of Mind, Brain, and Behavior, College of Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0068. ajf@u.arizona.eduhttp://www.u.arizona.edu/~ajfcjblack@email.arizona.eduhttp://www.u.arizona.edu/~cjblack
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Abstract

Fincher & Thornhill (F&T) present a compelling argument that parasite stress underlies certain cultural practices promoting assortative sociality. However, we suggest that the theoretical framework proposed is limited in several ways, and that life history theory provides a more explanatory and inclusive framework, making more specific predictions about the trade-offs faced by organisms in the allocation of bioenergetic and material resources.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 35 , Issue 2 , April 2012 , pp. 87 - 88
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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