Childhood: Origins, Evolution, and Implications (School for Advanced Research Advanced Seminar Series)

Synopsis

This Collection Is The First To Specifically Address Our Current Understanding Of The Evolution Of Human Childhood, Which In Turn Significantly Affects Our Interpretations Of The Evolution Of Family Formation, Social Organization, Cultural Transmission, Cognition, Ontogeny, And The Physical And Socioemotional Needs Of Children. Moreover, The Importance Of Studying The Evolution Of Childhood Has Begun To Extend Beyond Academic Modeling And Into Real-world Applications For Maternal And Child Health And Well-being In Contemporary Populations Around The World. Combined, The Chapters Show That What We Call Childhood Is Culturally Variable Yet Biologically Based And Has Been Critical To The Evolutionary Success Of Our Species; The Significance Of Integrating Childhood Into Models Of Human Life History And Evolution Cannot Be Overstated. This Volume Further Demonstrates The Benefits Of Interdisciplinary Investigation And Is Sure To Spur Further Interest In The Field-- Multiple Perspectives On The Evolution Of Childhood / Alyssa N. Crittenden And Courtney L. Meehan -- Development Plus Social Selection In The Emergence Of Emotionally Modern Humans / Sarah B. Hrdy -- Childhood, Biocultural Reproduction, And Human Lifetime Reproductive Effort / Barry Bogin, Jared Bragg, And Christopher Kuzawa -- Childhood And Patterns Of Growth In The Genus Homo / Jennifer L. Thompson And Andrew J. Nelson -- Hormones And The Evolution Of Childhood In Humans And Nonhuman Primates / Robin M. Bernstein -- Hunter-gatherer Infancy And Childhood In The Context Of Human Evolution / Melvin Konner -- Children's Foraging And Play Among The Hadza : The Evolutionary Significance Of Work Play / Alyssa N. Crittenden -- Ethnographic Perspectives On Culture Acquisition / David F. Lancy -- Implications Of Lengthy Development And Maternal Life History : Allomaternal Investment, Peer Relationships, And Social Networks / Courtney L. Meehan, Courtney Helfrecht, And Courtney D. Malcom -- Integrating Evolutionary Perspectives Into Global Health And Implementation Science / Daniel Sellen -- Conclusion : Emerging Issues In Studies Of The Evolution Of Childhood / Alyssa N. Crittenden And Courtney L. Meehan. Edited By Courtney L. Meehan And Alyssa N. Crittenden. Published In Association With School For Advanced Research Press, Santa Fe. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 251-341) And Index.