Johns, S. E., Dickins, T. E. and Clegg, H. (2011) Teenage pregnancy and motherhood: how might evolutionary theory inform policy. Journal of Evolutionary Psychology. 9(1), pp. 3-19. 1789-2082.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Abstract: | Teenage pregnancy and motherhood are considered to be pressing social concerns and, in the majority of developed countries, are often viewed as problems in need of solutions. While a number of factors are associated with teenage motherhood, the underlying causes remain elusive. Despite a lack of consensus, policy aimed at ‘solving’ teenage motherhood is typically based on these proposed proximate correlates; addressing these, rather than the cause. Recent appraisals of this approach suggest that it may not be working effectively, if at all, and policy makers might be in need of some novel approaches. This paper discusses how policy decisions concerning reproductive timing may benefit from the perspective provided by evolutionary life-history theory, and why policy ought to take into account the hypothesis that teenage motherhood is the outcome of an adaptive response of an evolved reproductive strategy to conditions of risk and uncertainty; that having children at an earlier age may promote lineage survival when personal future is uncertain |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Teenage pregnancy, reproduction, life-history theory, evolutionary biology |
| Subjects: |
B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology > BF698 Personality > BF698.95 Evolutionary psychology H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Women > HQ755.7 Parents. Parenthood > HQ759.4 Teenage pregnancy |
| Creators: | Johns, Sarah E, Dickins, Thomas E and Clegg, Helen |
| Publisher: | Akadémiai Kiadó |
| Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: |
University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Research Group > Social and Cultural Research in Psychology Group University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > School of Social Sciences (to 2016) University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology Faculties > Faculty of Health & Society > Psychology Research Centres > Centre for Psychology and Social Sciences |
| Date: | 2011 |
| Date Type: | Publication |
| Page Range: | pp. 3-19 |
| Journal or Publication Title: | Journal of Evolutionary Psychology |
| Volume: | 9 |
| Number: | 1 |
| Language: | English |
| DOI: | https://doi.org/10.1556/JEP.9.2011.37.1 |
| ISSN: | 1789-2082 |
| Status: | Published / Disseminated |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Related URLs: | |
| URI: | http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/5504 |
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