Differential Use of Reproductive Strategies by Human Groups?

Abstract

J.P. Rushton has presented a series of articles proposing that different racial groups, having evolved under different environmental conditions, have been differentially selected, resulting in genetic differences in their reproductive behavior, intelligence, and “social rule-following.” Rushton's model is discussed with respect to two controversial points: criticisms of the nature of the data and analyses, and alternative explanations of the data. I concur with Rushton in the belief that different human groups utilize different strategies, but find the differential use of species-wide, environmentally contingent tactics a more parsimonious explanation than genetic differences.