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Does morality have a biological basis? An empirical test of the factors governing moral sentiments relating to incest

Fiche mise à jour le 16 novembre 2018

En bref

Périodique : Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Numéros : vol. 270, nº 1517, ISSN 0962-8452 (Imprimé), ISSN 1471-2954 (En ligne)
Dates : Date de publication: 22/04/2003
Etendue : pp. 819-826
Liens internet : DOI

Description

Titre :

Does morality have a biological basis? An empirical test of the factors governing moral sentiments relating to incest

Résumé :

Kin–recognition systems have been hypothesized to exist in humans, and adaptively to regulate altruism and incest avoidance among close genetic kin. This latter function allows the architecture of the kin recognition system to be mapped by quantitatively matching individual variation in opposition to incest to individual variation in developmental parameters, such as family structure and co–residence patterns. Methodological difficulties that appear when subjects are asked to disclose incestuous inclinations can be circumvented by measuring their opposition to incest in third parties, i.e. morality. This method allows a direct test of Westermarck's original hypothesis that childhood co–residence with an opposite–sex individual predicts the strength of moral sentiments regarding third–party sibling incest. Results support Westermarck's hypothesis and the model of kin recognition that it implies. Co–residence duration objectively predicts genetic relatedness, making it a reliable cue to kinship. Co–residence duration predicts the strength of opposition to incest, even after controlling for relatedness and even when co–residing individuals are genetically unrelated. This undercuts kin–recognition models requiring matching to self (through, for example, major histocompatibility complex or phenotypic markers). Subjects' beliefs about relatedness had no effect after controlling for co–residence, indicating that systems regulating kin–relevant behaviours are non–conscious, and calibrated by co–residence, not belief.

Mots clés libres :

General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology, General Immunology and Microbiology, General Agricultural and Biological Sciences, General Environmental Science, General Medicine

Détails

Langue : anglais
Numéro de fiche : 1360
Source : CrossRef
Type de fiche : Article de périodique
Création : 04/05/2018
Dernière modification : 16/11/2018
Statut WordPress : Publié