UID:
almahu_9949747657702882
Format:
1 online resource (xiv, 116 pages).
Edition:
First edition.
ISBN:
9781003463320
,
1003463320
,
9781040005927
,
1040005926
,
9781040005941
,
1040005942
Series Statement:
Evolutionary analysis in the social sciences
Content:
This is the first book to fully examine, from an evolutionary point of view, the association of social status and fertility in human societies before, during, and after the demographic transition. In most nonhuman social species, social status or relative rank in a social group is positively associated with the number of offspring, with high-status individuals typically having more offspring than low-status individuals. However, humans appear to be different. As societies have gotten richer, fertility has dipped to unprecedented lows, with some developed societies now at or below replacement fertility. Within rich societies, women in higher-income families often have fewer children than women in lower-income families. Evolutionary theory suggests that the relationship between social status and fertility is likely to be somewhat different for men and women, so it is important to examine this relationship for men and women separately. When this is done, the positive association between individual social status and fertility is often clear in less-developed, pre-transitional societies, particularly for men. Once the demographic transition begins, it is elite families, particularly the women of elite families, who lead the way in fertility decline. Post-transition, the evidence from a variety of developed societies in Europe, North America and East Asia is that high-status men (particularly men with high personal income) do have more children on average than lower-status men. The reverse is often true of women, although there is evidence that this is changing in Nordic countries. The implications of these observations for evolutionary theory are also discussed. This book will be of interest to students and researchers in the social sciences with an interest in evolutionary sociology, evolutionary anthropology, evolutionary psychology, demography, and fertility.
Note:
Cover -- Half Title -- Series Information -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Dedication -- Table of Contents -- List of Figures -- List of Tables -- Preface -- 1 The Changing Relationship Between Status and Fertility -- References -- 2 Evolutionary Theory and the Fertility Behavior of Humans -- Evolution By Natural Selection -- Sexual Selection -- Sex Differences in Parental Investment in Humans -- Sex Differences in Mate Preferences -- References -- 3 Sources of Social Status Across Human Societies -- Age -- Height and Size for Men -- Intelligence and Costly Signaling
,
Beauty (Especially for Women) -- Social Status in Agricultural Societies -- The House of Habsburg -- an Example of Status Preservation -- Social Status in Industrial Societies -- References -- 4 Social Status and Fertility in Preindustrial Societies -- Hunting and Gathering Societies -- Horticultural and Tribal Societies -- Female Fertility -- Agrarian and Despotic Societies -- Status and Fertility Among Women in Agrarian Societies -- References -- 5 Status and Fertility in Europe and America During the Demographic Transition -- The Demographic Transition
,
Status and Fertility During the Demographic Transition -- References -- 6 Status and Fertility in East Asia During the Demographic Transition -- Japan -- Taiwan -- Korea -- China -- References -- 7 Status and Fertility in Contemporary Transitioning Societies -- Status and Fertility in Contemporary Developing Countries -- Education and Fertility -- Income, Wealth, and Fertility -- References -- 8 The Relationship Between Status and Fertility in Post-Transition Europe and America -- Education and Fertility -- Personal Income, Wealth, and Fertility -- Income and Fertility Within Couples
,
Evolutionary Theory and Low Fertility in Developed Societies -- Possible Genetic Selection -- References -- 9 Additional Factors Influencing Status and Fertility -- Religion -- Endogamy and Homogamy -- References -- 10 Not So Weird After All -- Reference -- Index
Additional Edition:
Print version: ISBN 1032732571
Additional Edition:
ISBN 9781032732572
Additional Edition:
ISBN 1032732881
Additional Edition:
ISBN 9781032732886
Language:
English
DOI:
10.4324/9781003463320
URL:
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781003463320
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