Fathers and child maltreatment: A research agenda based on evolutionary theory and behavioral biology research

The step-father effect in child abuse: Comparing discriminative parental solicitude and antisociality.

“…In population studies, the risk of child physical abuse has been linked to children’s genetic relationship to the abusive parent. Step-parents (and adults in similar roles) represent greater risk of physical violence to children than do genetic parents (e.g., Daly & Wilson, 2001; Hanson et al, 2006; Harris, Hilton, Rice, & Eke, 2007; Herring, 2009; Nordlund & Temrin, 2007; Weekes-Shackelford & Shackelford, 2004; see review by Archer, 2013). Daly and Wilson (2001), reviewing the evidence to that date, stated “There are no known exceptions to the ubiquitous phenomenon of parents discriminating against stepchildren” (p. 287).…”

“…This account states that genetically unrelated children are at greater risk of violence than genetically related children because evolutionary history has endowed people with a tendency to feel differently toward their own children than toward others. A strong test of this discriminative parental solicitude hypothesis would be to examine whether parents who have both step and genetically related children, and thus the opportunity to assault either, are more likely to assault unrelated children (Herring, 2009). In studies of families with children of different relatedness, fathers’ and mothers’ aggression is indeed disproportionately against step-children (e.g., Archer, 2013; Harris et al, 2007).…”

The Evolution of Violence

“…For example, researchers have tended to conduct bimodal comparisons between all genetic fathers and all other fathers (i.e., stepfathers). This latter group potentially includes many different types of "stepfathers" who warrant separate examination, such as stepfathers married to the child's genetic mother, mother's live-in boyfriend, adoptive fathers, foster fathers, not to mention more distant kin such as grandfathers and uncles (Herring 2009a). Well-designed studies may help reveal specific father-types that present relatively high risks of child maltreatment.…”

“…One could predict that as long as this aspect of mating effort yields positive results in terms of a man's relationship with a woman, it will evoke sustained paternal investment and better treatment of children. One could also predict that if the relationship is troubled or uncertain, it will yield worse treatment of children, including higher rates of maltreatment (Herring 2009a).…”

Passion and Compassion: Psychology of Kin Relations Within and Beyond the Family

“…Research on the psychology of kin relations is being closely followed by legal scholars, who in turn are publishing writings that could potentially influence policy in areas such as foster care and adoption (e.g., Herring, 2003Herring, , 2009). Thus, another area for future research concerns applying knowledge of kinship psychology towards maximizing high-quality care among children placed in foster or adoptive care.…”