Toward Integration of the Niche Diversity Hypothesis With Other Explanations for Personality Covariation: Reply to Mededovic’s (2019) Commentary on Lukaszewski et al. (2017)

Authors

Aaron Lukaszewski
Michael Gurven
Christopher von Rueden, University of RichmondFollow
Paul E. Smaldino

DOI

10.1177/1948550619873679

Abstract

The hypothesis of a human-universal personality structure is undermined by cross-cultural studies in small-scale societies. To explain cross-population differences in patterns of behavioral covariance, we proposed the niche diversity hypothesis, which holds that the degree of behavioral covariation within a population is inversely related to the number and diversity of niches within its socioecology. This hypothesis is formalized as a computational model, and its predictions have been supported empirically. Herein, we respond to several important issues regarding this line of research that were raised in a recent commentary: (1) the study of specific behavioral syndromes should be integrated into the niche diversity model; (2) environmental harshness might alternatively explain our cross-cultural findings regarding effects of niche diversity; and (3) better definitions of behavioral traits are needed for future research. We conclude that the niche diversity hypothesis can be integrated with other explanations for cross-cultural differences in personality covariation.

Document Type

Post-print Article

Publication Date

5-2020

Comments

Refer to Dr. Christopher von Rueden's website for further information.

Publisher Statement

Copyright © 2019 The Author(s).

DOI: 10.1177/1948550619873679

The definitive version is available at:

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1948550619873679

Full Citation:

Lukaszewski, Aaron, Michael Gurven, Christopher R. von Rueden, and Paul Smaldino. “Toward Integration of the Niche Diversity Hypothesis With Other Explanations for Personality Covariation: Reply to Mededovic’s (2019) Commentary on Lukaszewski et al. (2017).” Social Psychological and Personality Science 11, no. 4 (May 2020): 574-576. doi:10.1177/1948550619873679.

Recommended Citation

Lukaszewski, Aaron, Michael Gurven, Christopher R. von Rueden, and Paul Smaldino. “Toward Integration of the Niche Diversity Hypothesis With Other Explanations for Personality Covariation: Reply to Mededovic’s (2019) Commentary on Lukaszewski et al. (2017).” Social Psychological and Personality Science 11, no. 4 (May 2020): 574-576. https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550619873679.