Discussion and homework questions for week 12

For each reading assignment, please write a paragraph in response to those questions with an asterisk (*). Turn in your paragraph at the beginning of class on the day we discuss that reading assignment. Your homework should be typed or legibly handwritten. Make sure you put your name, date, course number, and the reading assignment on your homework. Each assignment is due at the beginning of class.

Due:  Monday, April 23

Wilson & Daly

1. What is the most common precipitating factor or motive in violence against wives?  Explain the evolutionary basis to this disposition (i.e., why it would be adaptive for men in some cases to be violent toward their mates).

*2.  Based on information in the article, evaluate the argument that violence against wives occurs because they are convenient targets for husbands' frustrations and anger (i.e., wives are abused because they simply spend a lot of time near their husbands, and are more likely than others to be abused by their husbands).

3. When are women most likely to be killed by their mates (i.e., at what point in their relationships)?  Why might account for this?

4. How does a woman's age relate to her risk of being killed by her mate?  What might account for this?
 

Due: Wednesday, April 25

Daly & Wilson

1. Explain the evolutionary logic for violence against stepchildren.

*2. Explain why widow inheritance (as among the Luo of Kenya - see the Schoofs article) may help prevent child abuse and neglect.