Life history theory and human behavior: Testing associations between environmental harshness, life history strategies and testosterone

Abstract

This study was a test of associations between measures of harsher environments and indicators of a “faster” life history strategy, including higher aggression, risk taking and a sociosexuality preference for short term and uncommitted sexual relationships. Hypotheses were derived from previous literature in evolutionary psychology proposing that harsher environments promote these faster life history strategies. Additionally, due to the potential for testosterone to act as a hormonal mechanism calibrating life history strategies, associations were tested between salivary testosterone and harsher environments and faster life history strategy indicators. Based on a sample of young adult male undergraduates (n = 99), the results of this study do not support hypothesized associations between harsher environments and faster life history strategies.The majority of tests between environmental harshness and life history strategy indicators were non-significant, with two being significant in the expected direction and one being significant in the unexpected direction. However, none of these remained significant after adjustment for multiple comparisons. There were no significant associations between testosterone and environmental harshness or life history strategy indicators. The results of this study suggest reconsideration of current uses of life history theory within evolutionary psychology intended to explain relationships between environments and psychology and behavior.