Synonyms
Definition
Margie Profet contributed evolutionary theories of pathogen and toxin avoidance as they pertained to pregnancy sickness, allergies, and menstruation.
Introduction
This entry focuses on the theoretical contributions made by Margie Profet in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Profet’s key contributions included describing the adaptive significance of pregnancy sickness, menstruation, and allergies. Prior to Profet’s work, researchers had not explained these topics through the lens of evolutionary theory; instead, these physiological processes were largely portrayed as biological anomalies or evolutionary by-products. Profet was therefore recognized as a key figure in bridging evolutionary theory with health sciences, but also stirred up controversy among biologists and physicians in the popular media. This entry therefore describes each of the key contributions made by Profet and the social context surrounding her theories.
Background
Margaret...
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.
References
Angier, N. (1993, September 21). Radical new view of role of menstruation. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/21/science/radical-new-view-of-role-of-menstruation.html
Clancy, K. B. H. (2009). Reproductive ecology and the endometrium: Physiology, variation, and new directions. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 140(S49), 137–154. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajpa.21188.
Cotterchio, M., Lowcock, E., Hudson, T. J., Greenwood, C., & Gallinger, S. (2014). Association between allergies and risk of pancreatic cancer. Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, 23(3), 469–480. https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-13-0965.
Fessler, D. M. T. (2002). Reproductive immunosuppression and diet: An evolutionary perspective on pregnancy sickness and meat consumption. Current Anthropology, 43(1), 19–61. https://doi.org/10.1086/324128.
Flaxman, S. M., & Sherman, P. W. (2000). Morning sickness: A mechanism for protecting mother and embryo. The Quarterly Review of Biology, 75(2), 113–148.
Garey, J. D. (1990). Phytoestrogens and the evolutionary significance of menstruation. American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 81(2), 225–226. DIV John Wiley & Sons INC 605 Third Ave, New York, NY 10158-0012: Wiley-Liss.
Haig, D. (1993). Genetic conflicts in human pregnancy. The Quarterly Review of Biology, 68(4), 495–532. https://doi.org/10.1086/418300.
Henrich, J., & Henrich, N. (2010). The evolution of cultural adaptations: Fijian food taboos protect against dangerous marine toxins. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences, 277(1701), 3715–3724. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2010.1191.
Hook, E. B. (1978). Dietary cravings and aversions during pregnancy. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 31(8), 1355–1362. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/31.8.1355.
Martin, M. (2012). The mysterious case of the vanishing genius. Retrieved October 7, 2019, from Psychology Today website: http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201205/the-mysterious-case-the-vanishing-genius
Mcdermott, T. (1994). Living | Darwinian medicine – It’s a war out there and Margie Profet, a leading theorist in a new science, thinks the human body does some pretty weird things to survive. Seattle Times Newspaper. Retrieved October 11, 2019, from http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19940731&slug=1922927
McKerracher, L., Collard, M., & Henrich, J. (2016). Food aversions and cravings during pregnancy on Yasawa Island, Fiji. Human Nature, 27(3), 296–315. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12110-016-9262-y.
Naeye, R. L., & Ross, S. (1982). Coitus and chorioamnionitis: A prospective study. Early Human Development, 6(1), 91–97. https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-3782(82)90062-7.
Newsweek Staff. (1995). Babies, broccoli and birth defects. Retrieved October 11, 2019, from https://www.newsweek.com/babies-broccoli-and-birth-defects-184236
Placek, C. D., Madhivanan, P., & Hagen, E. H. (2017). Innate food aversions and culturally transmitted food taboos in pregnant women in rural southwest India: Separate systems to protect the fetus? Evolution and Human Behavior, 38(6), 714–728. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2017.08.001.
Profet, M. (1988). The evolution of pregnancy sickness as protection to the embryo against Pleistocene teratogens. Evolutionary Theory, 8(3), 177–190.
Profet, M. (1991). The function of allergy: Immunological defense against toxins. The Quarterly Review of Biology, 66(1), 23–62. https://doi.org/10.1086/417049.
Profet, M. (1993). Menstruation as a defense against pathogens transported by sperm. The Quarterly review of biology, 68(3), 335–386
Profet, M. (1995). Pregnancy sickness as adaptation: A deterrent to maternal ingestion of teratogens. In The adapted mind: Evolutionary psychology and the generation of culture. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Profet, M. (1997a). Pregnancy sickness: Using your body’s natural defenses to protect your baby-to-be. New York, NY: Hachette Books.
Profet, M. (1997b). Protecting your baby-to-be: Preventing birth defects in the first three months of pregnancy. London: Warner.
Profet, M. (n.d.). A promising scientist vanishes without a trace. Retrieved October 8, 2019, from https://www.newswise.com/articles/margie-profet-a-promising-scientist-vanishes-without-a-trace22
Sherman, P. W., Holland, E., & Sherman, J. S. (2008). Allergies: Their role in cancer prevention. The Quarterly Review of Biology, 83(4), 339–362. https://doi.org/10.1086/592850.
Young, A. G., & Pike, I. L. (2012). A biocultural framework for examining maternal cravings and aversions among pastoral women in East Africa. Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 51(5), 444–462. https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.2012.696013.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Placek, C.D. (2020). Margie Profet. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3028-1
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3028-1
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16999-6
eBook Packages: Springer Reference Behavioral Science and PsychologyReference Module Humanities and Social SciencesReference Module Business, Economics and Social Sciences