Abstract
Several theoretical perspectives have generated research on grandparental investment, notably socialization and evolutionary psychological perspectives. Using data collected from more than 200 older adults (mean age 67 years), we test three hypotheses derived from socialization and evolutionary perspectives about grandparents’ relationships with and investment in grandchildren. Results indicate that (1) emotional closeness with both children and children-in-law is positively related to reports of emotional closeness with grandchildren; (2) maternal grandmothers invest more in grandchildren than do other grandparents; and (3) grandparents invest more in daughters’ children than in sons’ children. Discussion addresses limitations of self-report methodology in this context and situates the current findings within the body of research indicating the existence of psychological mechanisms designed to guide differential nepotism.
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Richard L. Michalski received his Ph.D. in Psychology from Florida Atlantic University in 2005. He is currently an assistant professor of psychology at Hollins University. His research interests include family relationships, especially investments made in family members.
Todd K. Shackelford received his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1997. He is currently an associate professor of psychology at Florida Atlantic University and chair of the Evolutionary Psychology Area. His research interests include conflict between the sexes, especially sexual conflict.
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Michalski, R.L., Shackelford, T.K. Grandparental investment as a function of relational uncertainty and emotional closeness with parents. Hum Nat 16, 293–305 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12110-005-1012-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12110-005-1012-5