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Cited by 76Evolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorPersonality Traits and PsychologyAnimal Behavior and Reproduction

Early-Life Stressors, Personality Development, and Fast Life Strategies: An Evolutionary Perspective on Malevolent Personality Features

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Csathó, Árpád, Birkás, Béla·2018·Frontiers in Psychology
DOI 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00305PMC PMC5857553
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Abstract

Life history theory posits that behavioral adaptation to various environmental (ecological and/or social) conditions encountered during childhood is regulated by a wide variety of different traits resulting in various behavioral strategies. Unpredictable and harsh conditions tend to produce fast life history strategies, characterized by early maturation, a higher number of sexual partners to whom one is less attached, and less parenting of offspring. Unpredictability and harshness not only affects dispositional social and emotional functioning, but may also promote the development of personality traits linked to higher rates of instability in social relationships or more self-interested behavior. Similarly, detrimental childhood experiences, such as poor parental care or high parent-child conflict, affect personality development and may create a more distrustful, malicious interpersonal style. The aim of this brief review is to survey and summarize findings on the impact of negative early-life experiences on the development of personality and fast life history strategies. By demonstrating that there are parallels in adaptations to adversity in these two domains, we hope to lend weight to current and future attempts to provide a comprehensive insight of personality traits and functions at the ultimate and proximate levels.

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Csathó, Á., & Birkás, B.
Affiliations
University of Pecs (HU)
Corresponding author
Birkás, Béla
ORCID
Venue
Frontiers in Psychology
Publisher
Frontiers Media SA
Published
2018-03-12
Volume
9
Pages
305-305
ISSN
1664-1078 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00305
PMC
PMC5857553
OpenAlex
W2794333443
Cited by
76
References
6
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 5
FWCI
1.00
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Frontiers in Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
Hungarian Scientific Research Fund
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
Keywords
early life stress, personality development, life history theory, childhood adversity, parental care, parent-child conflict, malice, social distrust, self-interest, evolutionary psychology

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