"Kin selection is a process whereby natural selection favours a trait due to its positive effects on the reproductive success of an organism's relatives, even when at a cost to the organism's own survival and reproduction."
The idea that natural selection can act on traits that benefit not only an individual's own survival and reproduction, but also those of their relatives who share their genes.
Inclusive fitness: Inclusive fitness is a concept in kin selection theory that encompasses an individual's own reproductive success as well as the reproductive success of their relatives, accounting for the potential influence of genetic relatedness on social behaviors.
Hamilton's rule: Hamilton's rule states that an altruistic behavior is likely to evolve when the cost to the altruist is less than the benefit to the recipient multiplied by their genetic relatedness.
Kin recognition: Kin recognition refers to the ability of an individual to discern and identify their genetic relatives, usually through cues such as appearance, behavior, or familiarity.
Altruism: Altruism refers to the selfless and voluntary behavior aimed at benefiting others, often at a cost or risk to oneself, and is frequently observed within kin relationships in evolutionary psychology.
Kinship coefficient: The kinship coefficient in Psychology and Kin selection is a numerical measure that quantifies the degree of genetic relatedness between individuals, guiding behaviors that promote the survival and reproduction of close genetic relatives.
Eusociality: Eusociality refers to a specialized social structure in which non-reproductive individuals cooperate in caring for the offspring of a few reproductive individuals, typically found in certain insect species like ants, bees, and termites.
Parental investment theory: Parental investment theory is a psychological framework that explores how the investment of resources and care by parents towards their offspring is influenced by the potential benefits and costs, ultimately shaping reproductive strategies and behavior.
Sibling rivalry: Sibling rivalry is a psychological phenomenon characterized by competition, conflict, and hostility between siblings, often driven by a quest for parental attention and limited resources.
Evolutionary game theory: Evolutionary game theory in the context of Psychology and Kin selection is a framework that applies mathematical models and strategies to understand the evolution of social behavior and cooperation among individuals.
Group selection theory: Group selection theory in the context of Psychology and Kin selection refers to the idea that natural selection can act on entire groups of individuals, favoring traits that promote the survival and reproductive success of the group, even if it comes at a cost to individual fitness.
Direct kin selection: This occurs when an individual is more likely to help a close relative because they share genetic material. For example, a mother may sacrifice her life to protect her offspring because they share genes.
Indirect kin selection: This occurs when an individual is more likely to help someone who is genetically related to a close relative. For example, a person may be more likely to help their cousin because their cousin shares genes with their close relative.
Reciprocal altruism: This occurs when an individual helps another individual with the expectation that they will receive help in return in the future. For example, a chimpanzee may groom another chimpanzee in exchange for grooming in return.
Mate choice kin selection: This occurs when an individual selects a mate based on their genetic relatedness to them. For example, a female may choose a mate who is not closely related to avoid inbreeding, or may choose a mate who shares genes for certain desirable traits.
"Kin selection can lead to the evolution of altruistic behavior."
"Inclusive fitness combines the number of offspring produced with the number an individual can ensure the production of by supporting others (weighted by the relatedness between individuals)."
"Charles Darwin discussed the concept of kin selection in his 1859 book, On the Origin of Species, where he reflected on the puzzle of sterile social insects, such as honey bees."
"Haldane famously jokes that he would willingly die for two brothers or eight cousins."
"W.D. Hamilton generalized the concept and developed it mathematically (resulting in Hamilton's rule)."
"The mathematical treatment was made more elegant in 1970 due to advances made by George R. Price."
"The term 'kin selection' itself was first used by John Maynard Smith in 1964."
"According to Hamilton's rule, kin selection causes genes to increase in frequency when the genetic relatedness of a recipient to an actor multiplied by the benefit to the recipient is greater than the reproductive cost to the actor."
"Hamilton proposed two mechanisms for kin selection. First, kin recognition allows individuals to be able to identify their relatives. Second, in viscous populations, populations in which the movement of organisms from their place of birth is relatively slow, local interactions tend to be among relatives by default."
"Note that kin selection is not the same thing as group selection, where natural selection is believed to act on the group as a whole."
"In humans, altruism is both more likely and on a larger scale with kin than with unrelated individuals; for example, humans give presents according to how closely related they are to the recipient."
"Allomothering is when related females such as older sisters or grandmothers often care for young, according to their relatedness."
"The social shrimp Synalpheus regalis protects juveniles within highly related colonies."
"Kin recognition allows individuals to be able to identify their relatives."
"In viscous populations, populations in which the movement of organisms from their place of birth is relatively slow, local interactions tend to be among relatives by default."
"The viscous population mechanism makes kin selection and social cooperation possible in the absence of kin recognition."
"Kin selection is a process whereby natural selection favors a trait due to its positive effects on the reproductive success of an organism's relatives."
"Altruism is both more likely and on a larger scale with kin than with unrelated individuals."
"For example, humans give presents according to how closely related they are to the recipient."