Fast, but not so Furious. On the Distinctiveness of a Fast Life History Strategy and the Common Core of Aversive Traits
Authors
Luisa K. Horsten
Department of Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Germany;
Research Center for Environmental Economics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
Benjamin E. Hilbig
Department of Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Germany
Isabel Thielmann
Department of Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Germany;
Department of Criminology, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law, Freiburg i. Br., Germany
Ingo Zettler
Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark;
Copenhagen Center for Social Data Science (SODAS), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
Morten Moshagen
Department of Psychological Research Methods, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
Abstract
Evolutionary Psychology has considered a Fast Life History Strategy (FLHS), denoting an individual’s tendency to invest more resources in proliferation than in child-rearing, to be responsible for the emergence of aversive traits. Empirical evidence for this notion has been inconsistent, however. Herein, we tested whether FLHS is an adequate representation of the underlying disposition of aversive traits (N = 869). To this end, we considered twelve specific aversive traits, and additionally measured and modeled the common core of these traits. We found only weak correlations of FLHS with individual aversive traits as well as with their common core. In sum, the results suggest that the common core of aversive traits is only marginally reflected in FLHS.