BEHAVIORAL FLEXIBILITY IN LIFE HISTORY STRATEGIES: THE ROLE OF LIFE EXPECTANCY

Life history theory is a mid-level evolutionary approach that is increasingly being utilized in psychology to examine ontogenetic development. In life history theory there are two prototypical strategies for facing the challenges of growth and reproduction. Differences in these strategies have primarily been thought to be caused by genetics, early life experiences, or a combination thereof as seen in gene x environment correlations and interactions. Although not exclusive of other views, an alternative view is that life history strategies afford a degree of behavioral flexibility and are adjusted based on situational cues. The cue examined in the current study was life expectancy. In support of this idea, when life expectancy was manipulated a change in mating preferences was recorded that was in line with the hypothesis.