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Predicting cross-cultural patterns in sex-biased parental investment and attachment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2009

Robert J. Quinlan
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-4910. [email protected]://www.wsu.edu/~rquinlan/

Abstract

If parenting behavior influences attachment, then parental investment (PI) theory can predict sex differences and distributions of attachment styles across cultures. Trivers-Willard, local resource competition, and local resource enhancement models make distinct predictions for sex-biased parental responsiveness relevant to attachment. Parental investment and attachment probably vary across cultures in relation to “local fitness currencies” for status, wealth, and well-being.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

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