TY - JOUR
T1 - How Genetic-Conflict Theory Can Inform Studies of Human Nature
AU - Ayers, Jessica D.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Understanding how genetics influences human psychology is something that the evolutionary sciences emphasize. However, the functions of complex genetic influences on behavior have been overlooked in favor of perspectives that posit unitary influences of genes on behavior. One such example is the belief that human growth, development, and behavior are influenced uniformly by their genes even though previous research has highlighted the genetic conflict endemic in these domains. Although much psychological research has robustly documented areas in which we see the footprints of genetic conflict in human behavior, these areas are referred to by different names that prevent researchers from making connections under a unifying framework. In this article, I outline what genetic conflict is and how genetic conflict can provide a unifying framework for psychological investigations of social relationships. I also discuss avenues for future research on genetic conflict in humans and the importance of considering cultural, ecological, and other developmental factors when researching the genetic influences on human behavior.
AB - Understanding how genetics influences human psychology is something that the evolutionary sciences emphasize. However, the functions of complex genetic influences on behavior have been overlooked in favor of perspectives that posit unitary influences of genes on behavior. One such example is the belief that human growth, development, and behavior are influenced uniformly by their genes even though previous research has highlighted the genetic conflict endemic in these domains. Although much psychological research has robustly documented areas in which we see the footprints of genetic conflict in human behavior, these areas are referred to by different names that prevent researchers from making connections under a unifying framework. In this article, I outline what genetic conflict is and how genetic conflict can provide a unifying framework for psychological investigations of social relationships. I also discuss avenues for future research on genetic conflict in humans and the importance of considering cultural, ecological, and other developmental factors when researching the genetic influences on human behavior.
KW - development
KW - genetic conflict
KW - genetics
KW - human nature
KW - social relationships
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85184675454&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/17456916241227152
DO - 10.1177/17456916241227152
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85184675454
SN - 1745-6916
JO - Perspectives on Psychological Science
JF - Perspectives on Psychological Science
ER -