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Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science pp 1–7Cite as

Ecological Influences on Parent–Offspring Conflict

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Synonyms

Conflict between parents and offspring; Environmental effects; Environmental contingencies

Definition

The environmental conditions that affect conflict between parent and child.

Introduction

To understand parent–offspring conflict and its ecological influences, Hamilton’s rule is presented, which provides the basic logic for these conflicts. Life history theory is then briefly discussed, and the logic of these two approaches is used to understand how multiple ecological influences can affect parent–offspring conflict. Hamilton’s rule defines the parameters by which altruistic behavior can evolve by natural selection. Thus, Hamilton’s rule is a foundation for kin selection theory (Hamilton 1964a, b). Hamilton’s rule states that altruistic behavior can evolve if rB > C, where C is the cost to the altruist, B is the benefit to the recipient, and r is the coefficient of relatedness. The coefficient of relatedness can range from 0 to 1 and represents the probability that, at any...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Wyoming, Larame, WY, USA

    Joshua J. Reynolds

Authors
  1. Joshua J. Reynolds
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Joshua J. Reynolds .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  2. Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL, USA

    Curtis Dunkel

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing AG

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Reynolds, J.J. (2016). Ecological Influences on Parent–Offspring Conflict. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3689-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3689-1

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  • 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

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