Infant and child death in the human environment of evolutionary adaptation

Evolution and Human Behavior • Vol/Iss. 34(3) • Elsevier • • Published In • Pages: 182-192 •
By Volk, Anthony A., Atkinson, Jeremy A.

Abstract

High infant and child mortality rates are suggested to be one of the most enduring and important features of ancestral human environments, referred to as the Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness (EEA). These rates contrast with the very low rates of infant and child mortality among many industrialized nations since the 19th and 20th centuries. The authors compare data from recent hunter-gatherer and agricultural societies, historical records, and non-human primates in attempt to quantitatively describe infant and child mortality rates during the EEA.

Note

Infant mortality rate is defined as the likelihood of dying before age 1, and childhood mortality rate is defined as the likelihood of dying before the age of 15.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Hunter-gatherer and agricultural groupsOther researchersSample pulled from various sources
Historical recordsOther researchersSample pulled from various sources
Nonhuman primate dataOther researchersSample pulled from various sources

Hypotheses (3)

HypothesisSupported
Infant and child mortality rates will be higher among contemporary hunter-gatherer populations than in western, industrialized populations.Supported; no formal test
The estimated Environment of Evolutionary Adaptedness (EEA) infant and child mortality rate will be greater than the mortality rates in modern Western cultures.Supported; no formal test
Agriculturalist populations will have lower infant and child mortality rates than hunter-gatherer populations.Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: erik.ringen