Thesis
Infant signaling behaviors and maternal, paternal and alloparental caregiving
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2017
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/103610
Abstract
Humans are cooperative breeders--infants receive care and provisioning from non-maternal caregivers. Research on allomaternal care centers on why caregivers invest (i.e., Kin Selection, Reciprocal Altruism, and Learning to Mother), but tends to examine investment irrespective of infant behavior. Minimal work has centered on whether infants are active agents in soliciting care from allomothers. If infants solicit and encourage care, such behavior could translate into fitness benefits. Here, we aim to explore the relationship between infant signaling behaviors (i.e., distress and non-distress vocalizations and smiling and laughing) and the care infants receive from mothers, fathers, and alloparents. The research was conducted among the Sidama agro-pastoralists in Ethiopia. Forty-seven infants and their caregivers were naturally observed across multiple days. No significant relationships between Sidama infant signaling behaviors and the frequency of care exist. However, results indicate that signaling behaviors were positively associated with the size of infants' alloparental network.
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Details
- Title
- Infant signaling behaviors and maternal, paternal and alloparental caregiving
- Creators
- Jessica Rose Collins
- Contributors
- Courtney L. Meehan (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Anthropology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; [Pullman, Washington] :
- Identifiers
- 99900525373401842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis