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Under greater cooperative care, childhood fear is more accommodated, but less warranted
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 08 May 2023
Abstract
The target article posits that caregiver cooperation rendered heightened expression of childhood fear an adaptive response to threat. I argue that caregiver cooperation rendered childhood fear expression less accurate as a signal of actual threat, and hence less effective for harm avoidance. Further, other emotional expressions that avoid unwarranted caregiver stress may be more likely to evoke needed care.
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- Open Peer Commentary
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- Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press
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Target article
The human fear paradox: Affective origins of cooperative care
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Author response
Extending and refining the fearful ape hypothesis