As my nephew transitions from a baby to a toddler, I start to wonder...are mean children that flight with others an example of evolution at its best?
In order to find ways to cope with my nephew's outrageous behavior I studied a few episodes of SuperNanny. Many of the cases dealt with children fighting, bullying and takng advantage of their siblings and/or parents and this made me of individual selection in biology. Dr. Carter, CSULB had mentioned that kids throw tantrums to get their way, usually making their parents sacrifice for them (whether it be picking them up or buying them a toy) this is a form of individual selection (lacking altruism in the childrens' action). These kids that are flighting with and screaming at their siblings are just more evolutionarily more fit than others. In nature survival of the fittest explains everything and if there is not enough food between siblings, the one who fights for it and wins are the ones that survive. Today's society's idea that kids should share with and care for others (especially their siblings) conflicts with evolutionary history.
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