SEX, CHILDBIRTH AND THE HUMAN FAMILY
November 19th, 2010 by Robert DePaolo | Posted in Psychology | No Comments » | 878 views | 
Abstract
In the course of human evolution a sequence of occurrences led to homo-indigenous traits and behaviors regarding sexuality, gender interactions, child rearing and the origin of a family ethic. The evolutionary changes appear to have been congruent, in the sense that if one occurred and others had not the changes might well have been maladaptive. Whether these changes occurred simultaneously or in some proximal sequence is unknown. Nor is it apparent which change occurred first, or what were the time frames in which they emerged. Even more unclear is the issue of when these traits and habits were first incorporated into social mores and human values. It presents a puzzle with regard to human evolution and invites speculation. That provides a pivot point for the following discussion.
CONGRUENCE
Before beginning the discussion, it might help to point out that “evolutionary congruence” is an arbitrary term used here for purposes of making a point. It is not a scientific term and it is not the same as “co-evolution” – the latter of which denotes an evolutionary trend whereby two separate creatures or biochemical entities evolve in ways that lead to a cooperative, adaptive interaction. (Futuyma & Slatkin, 1983), (Thompson, 1994). Congruence refers to the fact that in human evolution certain traits and behavioral/emotional dispositions had to occur either simultaneously or in close temporal proximity for them to jell into adaptive sexual, parental and social-familial dynamics.