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The Evolution of Violence pp 53–72Cite as

Evolutionary Perspectives on Child Welfare Law

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Abstract

Evolutionary theory and behavioral biology research have produced knowledge that is potentially useful in addressing violence against children. This chapter highlights two areas of child welfare law, policy, and practice for which this new knowledge has significant implications. First, the relevant behavioral studies contribute to the construction of research-based risk assessment tools through the identification of conditions or situations that increase the risk of violent acts against children. Second, the research supports the development of criteria for foster care placement decisions through the delineation of factors that predict the relative level of parental investment expected from different types of foster parents. This chapter also discusses the potential for additional research inquiries based on evolutionary theory that may have important implications for public child welfare systems.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    See generally Santosky v. Kramer, 455 U.S. 745 (1982); Smith v. Organization of Foster Families, 431 U.S. 816 (1977).

  2. 2.

    See Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980, Pub. L. 96–272.

  3. 3.

    Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008, Pub. L. 110–351.

  4. 4.

    In the child welfare field, the definition of kin includes individuals who have a prior relationship with a child, but who are not genetically related to the child.

  5. 5.

    It should be noted that this research fails to identify the mechanism for these grandparent effects. Contemporary longitudinal studies of different grandparent/grandchild relationships may help address this gap in knowledge.

  6. 6.

    The other primary indicator is number and age of non-foster children in the home.

  7. 7.

    The Multiethnic Placement Act, Pub. L. 103–382, sect. 551.

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  1. School of Law, University of New Mexico, 87131, Albuquerque, NM, USA

    David J. Herring

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  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  2. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Ranald D. Hansen

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Herring, D. (2014). Evolutionary Perspectives on Child Welfare Law. In: Shackelford, T., Hansen, R. (eds) The Evolution of Violence. Evolutionary Psychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9314-3_4

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