Reactive Heritability Framework
Heritable traits influence decision-making
Reactive heritability refers to the process by which heritable traits influence decision-making and behavior. This framework suggests that heritable qualities, such as body build or facial features, can provide input into species-typical mechanisms of self-assessment and decision-making, leading to stable individual differences in aggression and cooperativeness.
- Heritable traits can influence decision-making and behavior.
- Reactive heritability can lead to stable individual differences in aggression and cooperativeness.
- Heritable qualities can provide input into species-typical mechanisms of self-assessment and decision-making.
- Assess Heritable TraitsIdentify heritable traits that may influence decision-making and behavior, such as body build or facial features.Pro tipConsider the role of heritable traits in shaping self-assessment and decision-making.WarningBe aware that reactive heritability can lead to individual differences in aggression and cooperativeness.
- Evaluate Decision-Making MechanismsExamine how heritable traits influence decision-making mechanisms, such as self-assessment and strategic solutions.Pro tipConsider the role of evolved psychological mechanisms in shaping decision-making.WarningBe aware that reactive heritability can lead to stable individual differences in aggression and cooperativeness.
Research has shown that muscular men are quicker to anger and more aggressive in play, illustrating the role of reactive heritability in shaping aggression.
The concept of reactive heritability was introduced by Tooby and Cosmides (1990) to describe evolved psychological mechanisms that take heritable qualities as input for strategic solutions.