Littlefield C H, Rushton J P
J Pers Soc Psychol. 1986 Oct;51(4):797-802. doi: 10.1037//0022-3514.51.4.797.
According to modern evolutionary theory, the fitness of individuals consists of both their personal reproductive success and the reproductive success of those with whom they share genes in common. It follows that one of the most biologically costly events possible is the death of a child. This study investigated the grief intensity of bereaved parents and their immediate families using ratings made by 263 bereaved parents. Predictions were derived from sociobiological tenets relating to parental investment, paternal uncertainty, and the propagation potential of both parents and children. Consequently, it was found that mothers grieved more than fathers, healthy children were grieved for more than unhealthy children; male children were grieved for more than female children; health of child and sex of child interacted such that the pattern of grief intensity obtained was healthy male greater than healthy female = unhealthy female = unhealthy male; similar children were grieved for more than dissimilar children; maternal grandmothers grieved more than either maternal grandfathers or paternal grandmothers, who in turn grieved more than paternal grandfathers; and mothers' siblings grieved more than fathers' siblings.
根据现代进化理论，个体的适应性既包括其自身的繁殖成功率，也包括与其有共同基因的那些个体的繁殖成功率。由此可见，可能在生物学上代价最高的事件之一就是孩子的死亡。本研究通过263位丧亲父母的评分，调查了丧亲父母及其直系亲属的悲痛强度。预测是基于与亲代投资、父系不确定性以及父母和子女的繁殖潜力相关的社会生物学原则得出的。结果发现，母亲比父亲悲痛程度更深；健康孩子比不健康孩子更让人悲痛；男孩比女孩更让人悲痛；孩子的健康状况和性别存在交互作用，悲痛强度模式为健康男孩大于健康女孩 = 不健康女孩 = 不健康男孩；相似的孩子比不相似的孩子更让人悲痛；外祖母比外祖父或祖母更悲痛，祖母又比祖父更悲痛；母亲的兄弟姐妹比父亲的兄弟姐妹更悲痛。
