Cultural Shifts in Behavior as a Result of Pathogen Prevalence
Buss, Gangestad and Haselton (2006) stated that 30-50% of hunter-gatherer, prepubescent children died when diseases were present. This is how choosing a partner became about health.
Evolutionarily, a clear complexion in a female and a muscular, hairy male indicated potential immunocompetence, which influenced mate choices when there was a risky mating pool (Buss et al., 2006).
The two charts to the right by Buss et al.(2006) are evidence of mate preferences when pathogens are present, showing that physical attractiveness is statistically significant.
Higher pathogen prevalence increased rates of polygamy, forcing women to settle for men who already had multiple wives (Buss et al., 2006).
Vandello & Hettinger (2012) explained that men searched for a female partner when infections were present by determining her marketability and female purity.
Thornhill and Fincher (2012) discussed how in-group sociality and family ties become stronger when pathogens are prevalent, since the circumstances force decisions about health and safety to be made for more than just the individual.
A section of Boehm, Hill and Prokosch (2016) that explains the differences between slow and fast life-history srategies when pathogens are in a given area.
Shakelford (2005) discusses how the emergence of cultures of honor take place when resources in a society are low from ecological pressures.
An imageof a sign emphasizing the importance of wearing a mask in slowing the spread of COVID-19, furthering the points made by Gelfand et al.(2011) in regards to tighter cultures forming when social pressures are high.
Schaller and Murray (2010) suggests when pathogens are present, collectivism increases within in-groups to help overcome tough situations in society, as we have seen happen from the pandemic in many places in America.
Psychologically adapted mechanisms that have evolved in humans over time have patterns that are similar in origin, yet different as how they are expressed cross-culturally. This concept is critical in predicting what cultures will look like in years to come and how to accept these cultures during present day.