The Development of Human Reproductive Strategies: Progress and Prospects

Belsky, Jay

doi:10.1177/0963721412453588

Cited by 233Evolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorAnimal Behavior and ReproductionFamily Dynamics and Relationships

The Development of Human Reproductive Strategies: Progress and Prospects

Belsky, Jay·2012·Current Directions in Psychological Science

DOI 10.1177/0963721412453588

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Abstract

An evolutionary-biological perspective on the effects of the extrafamilial and familial environment on multiple psychological, behavioral, and even somatic features of children’s development challenges prevailing thinking about human development, which regards some contextual conditions and their sequelae as “good” and others as “bad.” Theory and research on the development of human reproductive strategies based on such evolutionary thinking has evolved substantially over the past two decades. In this article, I review two decades of theory and research findings pertaining to the development of reproductive strategies—highlighting the contextual regulation of pubertal timing, the distinctive role of fathers, individuals’ differential susceptibility to rearing influences, mechanisms of influence, and new ways of conceptualizing influential environmental features—and outline future directions for research.

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Numerous factors may accelerate puberty in humans and animals including a stressful early environment or absence of a father in the household, early exposure to endocrine disruptors, or childhood obesity.
“numerous factors may accelerate puberty in humans and animals including a stressful early environment or absence of a father in the household (Belsky, 2012), early exposure to endocrine disruptors (Meeker, 2012), or childhood obesity (Ahmed et al., 2009)”
From Does puberty mark a transition in sensitive periods for plasticity in the associative neocortex? (2017) · cites this paper as Belsky, 2012
From a life history theory standpoint, earlier sexual maturation may reflect an adaptive developmental response and distinct life history strategy that maximizes reproductive fitness in a harsh environment.
“From a life history theory standpoint, earlier sexual maturation may reflect an adaptive developmental response and distinct life history strategy that maximizes reproductive fitness in a harsh environment”
From Does puberty mark a transition in sensitive periods for plasticity in the associative neocortex? (2017) · cites this paper as Belsky, 2012

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Authors: Belsky, J.
Affiliations: King Abdulaziz University (SA)
Corresponding author: Belsky, Jay
ORCID: Belsky, Jay
Venue: Current Directions in Psychological Science
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2012-10
Volume: 21
Issue: 5
Pages: 310-316
ISSN: 0963-7214 (ISSN-L)
1467-8721
DOI: 10.1177/0963721412453588
OpenAlex: W2137533583
Cited by: 233
References: 56
Citations by year: 2026: 7 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 24 · 2015: 23 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 1
FWCI: 23.13
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations: Current Directions in Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
Keywords: evolutionary psychology, pubertal timing, family environment, father involvement, differential susceptibility, child development, environmental influences on development

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The Development of Human Reproductive Strategies: Progress and Prospects

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