title: Parasite stress, ethnocentrism, and life history strategy.
abstract: Fincher & Thornhill (F&T) present a compelling argument that parasite stress underlies certain cultural practices promoting assortative sociality. However, we suggest that the theoretical framework proposed is limited in several ways, and that life history theory provides a more explanatory and inclusive framework, making more specific predictions about the trade-offs faced by organisms in the allocation of bioenergetic and material resources.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, and School of Mind, Brain, and Behavior, College of Science, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721-0068, USA. ajf@u.arizona.edu
authors.forename: Aurelio José
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Figueredo
authors.forename: Paul Robert
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Gladden
authors.forename: Candace Jasmine
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Black
mesh_terms: D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D005195:Family Relations; D006801:Humans; D010272:Parasitic Diseases / Q000523:psychology*; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012919:Social Behavior; D013315:Stress, Psychological