Abstract
Familial relationships cannot be properly understood outside of an evolutionary framework. Pseudoscientifi c and traditional modes of thought have steered us away from an accurate account of ourselves and our kin. Recent theoretical and empirical advancements in the evolutionary sciences, such as the theories of inclusive fi tness, parental investment, and parent–offspring confl ict, have aided our understanding of familial confl ict and cooperation. We suggest that a gene’s-eye perspective of human families can likewise illuminate much of human psychology and behavior by contrasting individual interests with genetic interests. Furthermore, genetic imprinting and extended phenotypic action-at-a-distance have unveiled the extent to which coevolutionary arms races and manipulation may lie at the heart of familial interactions and psychological disorders. We posit that human cultural trends and morals can ultimately be grounded on an evolutionary foundation: Not only do human laws and institutions refl ect group-level manifestations of gene-level cooperative adaptations, they may also refl ect gene-level manipulative adaptations. An awareness of evolutionary dynamics can advance human well-being and unveil the hidden mechanisms beneath all human and nonhuman relationships.
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