<p> Grandparental investment in grandchildren is a topic of interest within the field of evolutionary psychology. Studies have shown a consistent pattern of differences when it comes to each grandparent&rsquo;s investment levels (Danielsbacka, Tanskanen, Jokela, &amp; Rotkirch, 2011; DeKay, 1995; Laham, Gonsakorale, &amp; Von Hippel, 2005; Michaski &amp; Shackelford, 2005; Pollet, Nettle, &amp; Nelisson, 2006). The pattern is as follows: the maternal grandmother invests the most, followed by the maternal grandfather, the paternal grandmother, and finally the paternal grandfather. The current hypotheses and theories behind this pattern are based on previous evolutionary theories of relatedness (Hamilton, 1964) and relational certainty (Trivers, 1972). The large and consistent difference between maternal grandmothers and paternal grandfathers can be explained relatively directly based on relational uncertainty, as the maternal grandmother is the most certain that the grandchild is her genetic relative and the paternal grandfather is least certain. This explanation is widely accepted. However, the smaller but consistent differences in investment patterns by maternal grandfathers versus paternal grandmothers, in favor of the former, is not as easily explained. The two currently competing theories are as follows: (1) although maternal grandfathers and paternal grandmothers are equally uncertain of their relatedness, they invest differently depending on which generation their uncertainty lies in &ndash; the grandparent generation for the grandfather and the parent generation for the grandmother; and (2) paternal grandparents have other grandchildren for which they are maternal grandparents, and they will choose to invest more in these more certain relatives. The current research was designed to test a new hypothesis, that patterns of grandparent investment are affected by whether or not grandparents are nested (coupled and sharing resources). A survey measuring grandparent investment across four dimensions was administered and found no significant differences between certain nested and unnested grandparents in terms of investment. Results instead revealed a different overall pattern of investment entirely, indicating multiple design flaws and providing some direction for future research.</p>

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Clark University, 1893. / Bibliography: p. 91-94.

This thesis examines how playful language functions in the friendship talk of preadolescent girls.By experimentation and manipulation of language, speakers negotiate turbulence to accomplish a variety of actions which highlight the talk-as-play function.The analytical focus is on speaker's negotation of talk in and out of play and non play. The methodology is synthesised from interactional sociolinguistics, ethnographic and Conversational Analysis approaches. Findings demonstrate that alliance building is accomplished in a diversity of forms which contribute to the overall game-like key of preadolescent girls' talk.Findings are relevant to applied linguistic and development psychology.The study offers new insights into the acquisition of gendered language practice. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

D.Ed. / The focus of this research is on the development of human potential in South Africa as well as on the role of education in this regard. The aim of the research was to identify the educational needs of South Africans and to formulate appropriate educational goals that could promote the optimal development of human potential in South Africa, which is also part of the "global village". Special attention is given to the development of the human potential of the poor, as this will contribute towards the alleviation of the widespread poverty in the country. Some of the relevant issues discussed are the following: The history of the South African educational system, poverty and its consequences in South Africa, the concepts of equality and equity, equality as a democratic principle, basic human rights, the implications of democracy, the implications of the process of globalising and the interdependence between the development of human potential and economic growth. The decision to use qualitative research methods is motivated. Research data on educational needs are noted. These data were collected by studying relevant literature, articles published in the press, radio and television programmes and by attending different national and international seminars on topics relevant to the development of human potential. Data obtained by doing fieldwork are also noted. These data were collected by interviewing poor people from different regions in South Africa. In addition, data were also obtained from personal and electronic interviews with South African experts in the field of the development of human potential. The opinion that South Africa can benefit from the experience of other developing countries with similar problems to that of South Africa, with regard to the development of human potential, is also motivated. Three of such developing countries were identified. Data collected from electronic interviews with experts in Colombia, Brazil and Argentina are noted. By analising the data, various educational needs could be identified. These educational needs are categorised as follows: Educational needs that are relevant to the daily existence and survival of people. Educational needs that stem from the fact that modern life requires from human beings to assert themselves in, and to continuously adapt to the rapidly changing community and world. Educational needs linked to human cognition. Educational needs relevant to the non-material, psychological, spiritual, and social needs of people. A number of specific educational needs are listed under each category. The process to verify the results is noted. The results were submitted for comment to an international expert in the field of the development of human potential in developing countries. Results were also submitted to a national expert. The acceptance of the results as valid, as well as additional contributions by both of the experts, is noted. Four general educational goals with regard to the development of human potential in South Africa are formulated as follows: To enable the learner to live independently as an adult. To enable the learner to assert himself or herself in daily life and to be able to adapt to, and to keep up with the continuous changes in the environment. To develop the cognitive abilities of learners optimally. To provide for the non-material, psychological, spiritual and social needs of learners. A number of specific educational goals are linked to each of the four general educational goals. Finally, recommendations are made with regard to the health level of communities, the self concept of learners, the nature of the civil society, literacy, proficiency in English, computer skills, the training of teachers and the outcomes based education model. The development of the cognitive abilities of learners is singled out as most important with regard to the development of human potential in South Africa.

No description available.

No description available.

<p> I found that in inbred females <i>D. melanogaster,</i> physical condition plays a major role in the amount of polyandry. In some systems there is evidence that the ability to self assess allows inbred females to vary their reproductive behavior to increase promiscuity. I predicted that this may be true in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i> females, but we found that inbred females behaved less promiscuously in three proxies than outbred females. Inbred females mated with fewer total males, fewer different males, and had longer copulation latency than their outbred conspecifics. However, male mate choice is not predicted in <i>Drosophila melanogaster </i> because males invest less than females, but recently the importance of male preference has been gaining support. How these males are making decisions is an important component to understanding the evolutionary impacts of the male's behaviors. I found that male mate choices are heavily influenced by previous experiences, and the lack of experience causes significant changes in courtship latency and overall preferences.</p>

<p> Comparative and evolutionary cognitive scientists disagree on whether human and nonhuman primate cognition is driven by a general intelligence or more specific, modular mechanisms. Comparative research with chimpanzees is extensive and provides the opportunity to better understand the evolution of human cognition. Little research has been dedicated to individual differences in chimpanzee social and physical cognition. The study of individual differences can be informative in better understanding the generality of primate intelligence. Results supporting a correlation between performances in the social and physical domains would suggest that a domain-general inference system may be responsible. If no relationship is revealed between performances then more compartmentalized, modular mechanisms may be responsible. As a preliminary investigation, I administered four studies focusing on social and physical cognition to a large number of captive chimpanzees. Performance on two tool-using tasks served as indicators of physical intelligence. I administered two social investigations regarding individual variation in social responsiveness and sociability. I did not find a correlation between the social and physical investigations; however strong individual differences in performances were observed. Demographic factors sometimes played a role in the results presented here (e.g. dominance rank and age). While this research does not demonstrate a relationship between sociability and physical intelligence, additional social measures should be utilized in order to measure social cognitive ability in chimpanzees. Focusing on individual differences with a battery of social and physical tasks will be informative regarding the structure of primate intelligence and the underlying cognitive mechanisms that are responsible.</p>

<p> Male katydids produce mating calls through stridulation to attract potential mates. Calls were recorded in the field and analyzed to compare between two related species that occur in overlapping ranges in the northwestern United States. Distinct differences were found between the two species' calls in both dominant frequency and chirp rate. Also, one species interspersed trills amongst the chirps of the call, while the other species' call did not include trills. These distinct call differences can be used for species identification and can be easier to differentiate than physical characteristics. </p><p> The upper limits of sexual selection can be estimated using upper limits on Bateman gradients, which represent how fecundity increases with additional mates. Upper limits on Bateman gradients are expected to be constrained by various factors such as nutrition. These upper limits were estimated using controlled mating experiments with katydids on high and low protein diets (as adults) by measuring how maximum fecundity (fecundity with ideal mates) increased with each mating. Decreases in both maximum fecundity and the potential for sexual selection were expected in males and females due to protein limitation. This would result from decreased potential fecundity in low protein females and decreased value of nuptial gifts given by low protein males. The results did not support our predictions as strongly as hoped, but a decrease in the upper limits of sexual selection was nearly significant in low protein males, evidenced by reduced fecundity gains from remating. Also, spermatophores (the katydid nuptial gift) had a more complicated effect on fecundity than expected. Spermatophore size differed between males' first and second matings, however, larger spermatophores did not always confer more value to females, particularly in second matings. </p><p> Stable isotope analysis was used to examine the lack of significant effects from differences in dietary protein on the upper limits of sexual selection in the previous experiment. Stable isotope ratios were analyzed for three body tissues to infer diet at different life stages by comparison with isotopic values from the foods. Results showed that animals on the low protein diet may have eaten more food to make up for their protein deficit, which would have confounded nutritional effects in the previous study. Sex differences in nutrient processing were present as would be expected if males and females experience different nutritional requirements for reproduction. Nutrient processing in exoskeleton varied across food treatments in males but not in females. This suggests that males experienced greater protein limitation than females and adjusted their nutrient processing accordingly. Further work is underway to determine how much of each type of food was consumed by individuals in different experimental treatments and during different life stages. </p>

Studien utgår från kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer med sju ungdomar i åldern 15-18 år som lever med minst ett syskon med någon form av funktionsnedsättning. Syskonens funktionsnedsättningar är neuropsykiatriska, fysiska samt i ett fall, förvärvad. Med utgångspunkt i utvecklings- och identitetsteori analyseras ungdomarnas upplevelser av sin vardag och beskrivning av sig själva. Syftet med studien är att utifrån ungdomarnas berättelser undersöka om utvecklingen och deras egen identitet påverkas av att växa upp med syskon med funktionsnedsättning.  Studiens resultat visar att om föräldrarna fått förutsättningar, stöd och verktyg att kunna hitta strategier för vardagen, samt har förmåga att fördela resurserna utifrån samtliga syskons individuella behov, har ungdomarnas identitet och utveckling inte påverkats negativt. Har det inte funnits resurser för ungdomarna att parera negativa konsekvenser uppvisar ungdomen tendenser till att kunna utveckla negativa och långvariga konsekvenser. Om föräldrarna inte själva kan hitta strategier för att kunna få ihop sin vardag kan det vara nödvändigt för samtliga familjemedlemmar att få hjälp kring hur de kan hitta dessa strategier och lösa uppkommande problem. / The study is based on qualitative semi-structured interviews with seven young people aged 15-18 who live with at least one sibling with some kind of disability. The siblings’ problems are neuropsychiatric, physical, and in one case, acquired disabilities. Based on development and identity theory we have analyzed the young people's experience of their everyday lives and descriptions of themselves. The purpose of the study is to examine how and in which way development and identity are influenced by growing up with a sibling that has a disability.  The results show that if parents have opportunities, support and tools to be able to find strategies for everyday life, and are able to allocate resources on the basis of all the siblings' individual needs, youth identity and development is not adversely affected. If there have not been resources for the youth to fend off the negative consequences the youth shows tendencies to develop negative and long-lasting consequences. If parents are unable to find strategies to be able to live their daily lives, it may be necessary for all family members to get help on how they can find these strategies and solve emerging problems.