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Kin Selection Underpins Family Dynamics in Rural China.

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Title: Kin Selection Underpins Family Dynamics in Rural China.
Authors: He, Qiao-Qiao (AUTHOR), Wang, Ming-Yang (AUTHOR), Wu, Jia-Jia (AUTHOR), Tao, Yi (AUTHOR), Yu, Jie-Ru (AUTHOR), Feng, Tian-Jiao (AUTHOR), Tang, Song-Hua (AUTHOR), Deng, Ling-Ling (AUTHOR), Mace, Ruth (AUTHOR), Zheng, Xiu-Deng (AUTHOR), Ji, Ting (AUTHOR)
Source: Human Nature. Mar2026, Vol. 37 Issue 1, p1-22. 22p.
Subjects: Kin selection (Evolution), Family size, Game theory, Population dynamics, Rural conditions, Cooperation, Family relations, Biological fitness
Geographic Terms: China
Abstract: As one of the most important characteristics of human families, the number of coresident members (household size) varies widely in different historical times and cultures. However, whether an optimal household size and an evolutionarily stable household size exist remains to be theoretically and empirically tested. Here, we developed a theoretical model among relatives based on kin selection and game theory to investigate the interplay of household size and cooperation. We then use a decade of household dynamic data from a rural population in southwestern China (1,110 households) to test the associations between household size, household dynamics and cooperation. The theoretical analysis suggests the existence of an optimal household size and an evolutionarily stable household size (which are not necessarily the same) by considering the average local relatedness and the changes of the average inclusive fitness payoff of the family. The data analysis shows that average relatedness () decreases with increasing household size, and is associated with helping behaviour (especially for the elders) in the household; thus, the household tends to maintain a relatively high level of average relatedness by adjusting the number of coresident members through demographic events such as birth and moving out. These findings help explain the variation in household size in different cultures and demonstrate the importance of kin selection as an intrinsic factor in regulating family dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Human Nature is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22He%2C+Qiao-Qiao%22">He, Qiao-Qiao</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wang%2C+Ming-Yang%22">Wang, Ming-Yang</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wu%2C+Jia-Jia%22">Wu, Jia-Jia</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tao%2C+Yi%22">Tao, Yi</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yu%2C+Jie-Ru%22">Yu, Jie-Ru</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Feng%2C+Tian-Jiao%22">Feng, Tian-Jiao</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tang%2C+Song-Hua%22">Tang, Song-Hua</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Deng%2C+Ling-Ling%22">Deng, Ling-Ling</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mace%2C+Ruth%22">Mace, Ruth</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Zheng%2C+Xiu-Deng%22">Zheng, Xiu-Deng</searchLink> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ji%2C+Ting%22">Ji, Ting</searchLink> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: As one of the most important characteristics of human families, the number of coresident members (household size) varies widely in different historical times and cultures. However, whether an optimal household size and an evolutionarily stable household size exist remains to be theoretically and empirically tested. Here, we developed a theoretical model among relatives based on kin selection and game theory to investigate the interplay of household size and cooperation. We then use a decade of household dynamic data from a rural population in southwestern China (1,110 households) to test the associations between household size, household dynamics and cooperation. The theoretical analysis suggests the existence of an optimal household size and an evolutionarily stable household size (which are not necessarily the same) by considering the average local relatedness and the changes of the average inclusive fitness payoff of the family. The data analysis shows that average relatedness () decreases with increasing household size, and is associated with helping behaviour (especially for the elders) in the household; thus, the household tends to maintain a relatively high level of average relatedness by adjusting the number of coresident members through demographic events such as birth and moving out. These findings help explain the variation in household size in different cultures and demonstrate the importance of kin selection as an intrinsic factor in regulating family dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Human Nature is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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