Grandmother Hypothesis, Grandmother Effect, and Residence Patterns

Abstract

The grandmother hypothesis is an adaptationist hypothesis suggesting the extended human female postmenopausal life span is explainable by kin selection. Grandmothers who provide alloparental care to their grandchildren are suggested to increase their fitness. Much research has focused on detecting grandmother effects in a range of settings worldwide. Evidence indicates that there may be differences in the effects of paternal and maternal grandparents on a range of fitness measures and suggests a role for consideration of local ecological conditions and kinship structures.