The impact of parenthood on physical aggression: evidence from criminal data

Lynda G. Boothroyd, Catharine P. Cross

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Evolutionary approaches to sex differences in physical aggression weigh the potential benefits of aggression against the likely costs to inclusive fitness, with some authors focusing on the damage physical injury would do to female inclusive fitness, and others on the extent to which success in physical competition may particularly enhance male fitness. This study tested a hypothesis derived from these approaches: that parents would be less physically aggressive than non-parents because of the damage any physical injury would do to their inclusive fitness. Analysis was carried out using the United States federal sentencing records for 1994–1999 (22,344 individuals). The proportion of theft convictions which were violent (robbery; vs. larceny) was significantly greater for men than women (odds ratio 7.7). As predicted, non-parents were significantly more likely to be violent than parents (odds ratio 1.6). Parenthood had a similar effect on relative rates of violence in men and women, although the baseline was considerably higher for men. There was also a significant effect in men of marital status, which interacted with parental status such that parenthood was only associated with a reduction in rates of violence in males recorded as partnered. The results are interpreted in terms of both evolutionary theory and recent work on the hormonal impacts of marriage and parenthood.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)577-584
Number of pages8
JournalAggressive Behavior
Volume42
Issue number6
Early online date22 Mar 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 14 Oct 2016

Keywords

  • Aggresion
  • Parenthood
  • Violent crime
  • Testosterone
  • Sex differences

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The impact of parenthood on physical aggression: evidence from criminal data'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this