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Could r selection account for the African personality and life cycle?

Authors :
Edward M. Miller
Source :
Personality and Individual Differences. 15:665-675
Publication Year :
1993
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 1993.

Abstract

Rushton has shown that Negroids exhibit many characteristics that biologists argue result from r selection. However, the area of their origin, the African Savanna, while a highly variable environment, would not select for r characteristics. Savanna humans have not adopted the dispersal and colonization strategy to which r characteristics are suited. While r characteristics may be selected for when adult mortality is highly variable, biologists argue that where juvenile mortality is variable, K characteristics are selected for. Human variable birth rates are mathematically similar to variable juvenile birth rates. Food shortage caused by African drought induce competition, just as food shortages caused by high population. Both should select for K characteristics, which by definition contribute to success at competition. Occasional long term droughts are likely to select for long lives, late menopause, high paternal investment, high anxiety, and intelligence. These appear to be the opposite to Rushton's r characteristics, and opposite to the traits he attributes to Negroids.

Details

ISSN :
01918869
Volume :
15
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Personality and Individual Differences
Accession number :
edsair.doi...........e61435588a5d4154ef274700e8b28aa3