Fast Life Strategy Research Articles

The ecological drivers of growth form evolution in flowering plants

Abstract In flowering plants (angiosperms), the herbaceous habit has evolved repeatedly from the ancestral woody state and herbs evolved repeatedly back to woody plants. Yet, how common these transitions were and which ecological conditions promote the herbaceous habit is poorly known. Several hypotheses exist, postulating an advantage of the herbaceous growth form to better cope with frost, drought, fire and shade and in allowing a fast life strategy, but their evaluation has been hitherto limited and support equivocal. We aim to evaluate these hypotheses by testing the difference between woody plants and herbs for a set of variables related to these hypotheses. We compiled and integrated data for up to 21,581 species representing 359 families from public databases. We estimated the minimum number of evolutionary transitions between both growth forms. We assembled data on frost, drought, fire and shade tolerances, clonality and specific leaf area and we tested individual hypotheses by comparing herbaceous and woody angiosperm growth forms globally and within selected biomes and clades using phylogenetic comparative analyses. We found 1656 evolutionary transitions from woody towards herbaceous growth form and 2111 transitions in the opposite direction. In agreement with our expectations, herbs were more tolerant to frost and shade than woody plants and had higher specific leaf area. However, the growth forms did not differ in their fire tolerance and clonality. Furthermore, contrary to our expectation, woody plants were more drought tolerant than herbs. The majority of the differences were robust to the choice of biome or clade. Synthesis. Both herbaceous and woody habits evolved many times making the evolution of growth forms a well‐replicated event and suggesting that conditions favourable for either of the growth forms emerge often and plants respond to them. Apart from standard explanation by low temperatures, the success of herbs was likely enabled also by biotic interactions—by their fast life strategy, which is beneficial in seasonal and early successional habitats, and by their ability to tolerate shade.

Is it good to be bad? An evolutionary analysis of the adaptive potential of psychopathic traits.

Although psychopathy is widely conceptualised as a mental disorder, some researchers question the maladaptive nature of psychopathy, and argue that it might be advantageous from an evolutionary point of view. According to this view, psychopathy can be seen as an evolutionary adaptative strategy that relies on deception and manipulation to gain short-term reproductive benefits. Psychopathy is also identified as a fast life strategy in response to early life stress and an adaptation to harsh environments. This paper investigates the evidence that psychopathic traits are adaptive, while also addressing the limitations of current evolutionary models of psychopathy based on frequency-dependent selection and life history theory. We review recent studies on the fitness correlates of psychopathy and find that psychopathic traits present potential adaptive trade-offs between fertility and mortality, and offspring quantity and quality. On a proximate level, individual differences in stress reactivity and environmental risk factors in early development predispose to psychopathy through gene-environment interactions. We propose that environmental, developmental, social and cultural factors can mediate the relationship between psychopathic traits and fitness and therefore should be considered to make accurate predictions on the adaptive potential of psychopathy. We end by outlining gaps in the literature and making recommendations for future evolutionary research on psychopathy.

A Life History Approach on Risk-taking Behaviors Moderated by Gender in Young Adult Spaniards

ABSTRACT Traditionally, risk-taking behaviors in young adulthood have been analyzed from a psychopathological approach, thus only assessing their negative consequences. Nevertheless, it is key to study the potential benefits that risk-taking provides to young adults. The present study follows the evolutionary approach of life history theory, which suggests that risk-taking is part of an adaptive fast-life history strategy. The main objective was to analyze the moderation role of gender between life history strategy and risk-taking behaviors. Based on a sample of young adult Spaniards, Mini-K was applied to measure K-factor as an index for life history strategy, and the Risky Behavior Questionnaire to measure the participation in a series of risk-taking behaviors. Results show that gender moderated the effect of life history strategy on risk-taking behaviors. Specifically, males with a fast-life history strategy showed higher participation in risk-taking behaviors compared to males with slow-life history strategy. In females, there was no difference in risk-taking behaviors based on life history strategy. Results support the life history approach of risk-taking behaviors as a pattern of integrated behavior in a fast-life strategy in young adult males. These findings can be applied to improve intervention programs aimed at reducing risk-taking behaviors in young adult males.

Fast and Slow Life Strategies in Entrepreneurial Career Paths

Individuals find their way to entrepreneurship either via early entrepreneurial career activities or a transitional phase in employment. Drawing on the theory of planned behavior and life history theory, our study explains how beliefs relevant to behavior and social origins influence individual career paths to entrepreneurship. Results are based on a nationwide survey involving 1003 individuals in a critical career decision phase and show that individuals growing up in rather uncertain environments (i.e., those from lower social classes) are more likely to postpone their entrepreneurial career intentions.

The influence of instrumentality in trusting Dark Triad members

This study examined whether the association between the Dark Triad and a Fast Life History strategy illuminates how Dark Triad members with poor reputations gain trust from others. Undergraduate participants (N = 121) viewed vignettes of high or low Dark Triad (dark/light) actors proposing Fast Life History or Slow Life History (fast/slow) strategies to obtain desirable outcomes. They rated how successful the actor would be (perceived instrumentality) and how inclined they were to trust the actor. Participants were significantly less trusting of dark actors, an effect that is compounded when the actors proposed to enact fast strategies. Interestingly, dark actors proposing slow strategies were trusted significantly more than light actors proposing fast strategies. Across vignettes, instrumentality was significantly positively related to trust. An exploratory analysis found that psychopathy and Machiavellianism were associated with trusting Dark Triad actors, and that psychopathy was associated with perceiving Fast Life strategies as effective. Our results provide evidence for a complex relationship between the Dark Triad and Life History, the importance of perceived instrumentality in trusting behaviours, and the unique characteristics of narcissism within the Dark Triad.

A life history approach to understanding juvenile offending and aggression

Abstract Life history theory has been used to understand how harsh and unpredictable environments contribute to risk behaviors. The theory suggests that exposure to negative environments leads individuals to adopt a “fast” life strategy, which is hypothesized to make individuals more likely to engage in risky behavior that is associated with immediate rewards. Using data from a sample of 1216 justice-involved male youth, we defined distinct groups of youth with a “fast” versus “slow” life strategy, based on their scores on measures of sensation seeking, impulse control, future orientation, consideration of others, and suppression of aggression. A logistic regression was used to test how different environmental factors predicted LH strategy group membership. Having a fast strategy was associated with greater victimization, higher parental hostility, and lower quality home environments. Growth curve models were used to examine group differences in offending and aggression over five years. Youth with a fast life strategy engaged in more violent and non-violent offending, as well as more relational and physical aggression. Although there were significant decreases in these behaviors within both groups over the five years, these group differences remained consistent over time.

Examining the Deviation From Balanced Time Perspective in the Dark Triad Throughout Adulthood.

Individuals who score high on Dark Triad (DT) personality traits (i.e., Machiavellianism, subclinical narcissism and subclinical psychopathy) have been found to prefer a fast life strategy with enhanced motivation for immediate resource acquisition and short-term benefits. In line with these points, recent studies have found evidence showing that DT traits are associated with a biased, strongly present-oriented time perspective. In the current study, we aimed to examine whether the temporal attitude of individuals high in DT is deviant from a balanced time perspective (BTP) to a significant extent. To achieve this aim, we applied two operationalizations published in earlier studies to quantify BTP: the Deviation from Balanced Time Perspective coefficient (DBTP), calculated as the difference between individuals’ time perception and the optimal time perspective, as well as the person-oriented approach of identifying groups of individuals with similar time perception. Importantly, the age of participants (N = 346) covered a long and continuous period of adulthood—from the young adulthood to the elderly—in order to examine the moderating effect of age on the association of DT and BTP. Machiavellianism and psychopathy were both found to be clearly deviant from a BTP. In contrast, higher scores on narcissism were positively associated with a BTP profile. The DBTP analysis, however, suggested that this beneficial effect of narcissism was only prevalent among the elderly individuals.

Psychopathy rather than Machiavellianism or narcissism facilitates intimate partner violence via fast life strategy

The dark triad traits (i.e., Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) are socially aversive and relate to antisocial behavior and violence. These behaviors may facilitate intimate partner violence (IPV) in couple relationships. IPV risk factors may be correlated with the dark triad traits. Life history strategy (LHS) may be able to account for IPV risk factors including the dark triad traits. This research therefore tested if possession of dark triad traits predicts IPV perpetration, and if LHS mediates any such relationship. Each dark triad trait directly positively affected IPV perpetration in a sample of Japanese undergraduate students (N=344; M=19.0years; SD=1.25; 182 females); however, only psychopathy uniquely predicted IPV perpetration. Among males, LHS partially mediated psychopathy's prediction of IPV, and mediated an indirect negative effect of Machiavellianism on IPV. LHS may account for the dark triad traits' effect on IPV in males. Directions of future research examining IPV and the present research's limitations are discussed.

Size the day: The time perspectives of the Dark Triad

Recent empirical findings on the Dark Triad and Life History Theory suggest that the behaviors linked to the Dark Triad are dominantly characterized by a fast life strategy with increased motivation to acquire short-term benefits and prioritize situations with immediate rewards. Current studies have also suggested that time perspectives could be one of the psychological mediators between actual behavior and life history strategies assuming that a present-oriented attitude is associated with fast life strategies. In line with this suggestion, we predicted to find associations between time perspectives and the Dark Triad traits. The prediction was investigated by self-reports. In accordance with the predictions, the results showed positive associations of the Dark Triad traits with the present-oriented time perspectives. In addition, unlike Narcissism, Machiavellianism and Psychopathy were found to be related to a negative view of the past. Our study provides the first evidence for significant associations between Dark Triad personality and time perspectives.

The relation between memories of childhood psychological maltreatment and Machiavellianism

Machiavellianism is a hot topic in several branches of psychology. Using Life-History Theory several studies identified Machiavellianism as a fast life strategy. According to this idea, Machiavellianism should be related to childhood adversities. Using a sample of adults we investigated the relationship between Machiavellianism and self-reported memories of childhood psychological maltreatment. Participants (247 individuals, 141 female, 32.38±5.43years of age on average) completed the Mach-IV Scale and the Childhood Abuse and Trauma Scale. Results showed a relationship between neglect and Machiavellianism in general, Machiavellian tactics, and Machiavellian world view. There was also a marginally significant link between punishment and Machiavellian tactics. Results are discussed from a moral developmental perspective and through the alexithymia hypothesis of Machiavellianism.

Parszywa Dwunastka: Developing a Polish version of the Dark Triad Dirty Dozen

In 5 studies (N = 1,274) we developed and validated a Polish translation of the Dirty Dozen measure of the Dark Triad—narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism. We detail the presence and stability of the bifactor structure of the 12 items. Tests suggest the Polish Dirty Dozen has good internally consistency and test–retest reliability. We show that the subscales have acceptable construct, convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity with measures of sociosexuality, criminality, aggression, Big Five personality, and longer measures of the Dark Triad. Using both self- and peer-report data, we provide evidence of how the Polish Dirty Dozen traits relate to indicators of a fast, agentic, selfish, and competitive life strategy versus a prosocial or communal one. Although concise measures have limitations, our results suggest that the Polish Dirty Dozen—Parszywa Dwunastka—is valid, stable, and useful.

Mate attraction in the Dark Triad: Narcissists are hot, Machiavellians and psychopaths not

The Dark Triad (narcissism, Machiavellianism, psychopathy) is linked to a fast life strategy and short-term mating in males, but strong ecologically valid evidence of their success in actual mating-situations is scarce. In natural and non-hypothetical men–women interactions (with ratings from men, women, and independent observers), we investigated (a) how the Dark Triad is related to mate attraction, (b) mediating variables of mate attraction, and (c) women’s and men’s physical attractiveness as a moderators. Fifty-nine men approached 1395 women on the streets aiming to obtain contact information, while two assistants unobtrusively observed interactions and questioned the women afterwards. Narcissism was uniquely associated to different mate attraction indicators because of approach-oriented behaviours (e.g., self-assuredness, charm). Machiavellianism and psychopathy showed neutral or negative relations. Men’s (but not women’s) physical attractiveness moderated the relation between narcissism and Machiavellianism with mate attraction. The courtship style and reproductive success of “dark personalities” is discussed.

Review on the Studies of the Dark Triad

The studies on the Big Five represent the exploration into non-clinical personalities, whereas the studies on the Dark Triad represent the exploration into the shadow of the subclinical personalities. The Dark Triad is composed of three personality traits: Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy, which are usually defined as antisocial personalities in the western culture. Results of recent studies on the Dark Triad indicate: (1) Machiavellianism, narcissism and psychopathy are independent yet intertwining personality traits; (2) valid tools have been developed to measure these personality traits; (3) the Dark Triad traits exhibit both antisociality and prosociality; (4) the Dark Triad may reflect a fast life strategy; (5) genetic and environmental factors play different roles in the development of the Dark Triad; (6) the Dark Triad is definitely a different personality trait cluster in contrast to the Big Five.

A life history approach to understanding the Dark Triad

Researchers adopting an evolutionary perspective have conceptualized the Dark Triad as an exploitative interpersonal style reflective of a fast life history strategy. However, not all research has supported this claim. We posit that different elements of the constructs associated with the Dark Triad may reflect different life history strategies. Our results indicate that the measures of the Dark Triad and other indicators of life history strategies form two distinct factors: (1) a fast life strategy factor that includes the impulsive antisociality facet of psychopathy, the entitlement/exploitativeness facet of narcissism, Machiavellianism, unrestricted sociosexuality, and aggression, and (2) a slow life strategy factor that includes the fearless dominance facet of psychopathy and both the leadership/authority and grandiose exhibitionism facets of narcissism. These factors differentially correlate with established measures of life history strategy. These findings add to the literature by clarifying how the Dark Triad fits into a life history framework.

I just cannot control myself: The Dark Triad and self-control

Despite the recent flurry of research on the Dark Triad, this work has been atheoretical. In two studies, totaling 358 participants, we attempt to situate the Dark Triad within the larger framework of Life History Theory by correlating them with three measures of self-control. Both psychopathy (Study 1 and Study 2) and Machiavellianism (Study 2 only) were correlated with low self-control, a tendency to discount future consequences, and high rates of attention deficit disorder. Narcissism was not correlated with measures of self-control in either study. Results are consistent with Life History Theory in that these two sets of psychological traits are expected to be part of a fast life strategy.