title: The parasite-stress theory may be a general  theory of culture and sociality.
abstract: In the target article, we presented the hypothesis that parasite-stress variation was a causal factor in the variation of in-group assortative sociality, cross-nationally and across the United States, which we indexed with variables that measured different aspects of the strength of family ties and religiosity. We presented evidence supportive of our hypothesis in the form of analyses that controlled for variation in freedom, wealth resources, and wealth inequality across nations and the states of the USA. Here, we respond to criticisms from commentators and attempt to clarify and expand the parasite-stress theory of sociality used to fuel our research presented in the target article.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA. fincher@unm.edu
authors.forename: Corey L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Fincher
authors.forename: Randy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thornhill
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