| VS | |
|---|
| Growth | Reproduction |
| Number of offspring | Size/quality of offspring |
| Early reproduction | Long lifespan |
| Current reproduction | Future reproduction |
Life-History Profile of Humans
| Trait | Human Value | Trade-Off Implication |
|---|
| Lifespan | Very long (70–100+ yrs) | Strong selection for longevity and post-reproductive roles |
| Age at first reproduction | Late (mid-teens to 30s) | Delayed reproduction in exchange for long-term investment |
| Parental investment | Extremely high | Few offspring but massive investment per child (food, protection, education) |
| Fertility rate | Low (~1–5 children) | Focus on offspring quality over quantity |
| Development time | Slow (20+ yrs to maturity) | Long dependency period enables large brain and cultural transmission |
| Offspring survival | High in modern societies | Investment in medicine, education, social structures |
| ^b0eed9 | | |