Lower Emotional Awareness Is Associated With Greater Early Adversity and Faster Life History Strategy

Ryan Smith; Horst Dieter Steklis; Netzin Steklis; Karen L. Weihs; John J.B. Allen; Richard D. Lane

doi:10.1037/ebs0000282

Lower Emotional Awareness Is Associated With Greater Early Adversity and Faster Life History Strategy

Ryan Smith, Horst Dieter Steklis, Netzin Steklis, Karen L. Weihs, John J.B. Allen, Richard D. Lane

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

8 Scopus citations

Abstract

Recent theoretical work suggests that emotional awareness (EA) depends on the harshness/predictability of early social interactions—and that low EA may in fact be adaptive in harsh environments that lack predictable interpersonal interactions. In evolutionary psychology, this process of psychological “calibration” to early environments corresponds to life history strategy (LHS). In this article, we tested the relationship between EA and LHS in 177 (40 male) individuals who completed the Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS), Arizona Life History Battery (short form: K-SF-42), and 2 measures of early abuse/neglect. Significantly lower EA was observed in those with faster LHS and who had experienced greater early adversity. Notably, LEAS was associated with differences in (a) general reflective cognition, and (b) emotional support from parents during childhood.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	1-15
Number of pages	15
Journal	Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences
Volume	17
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1037/ebs0000282
State	Published - Feb 24 2022

Keywords

Development
Early childhood adversity
Emotional awareness
Life history strategy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology
Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

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10.1037/ebs0000282

Cite this

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abstract = "Recent theoretical work suggests that emotional awareness (EA) depends on the harshness/predictability of early social interactions—and that low EA may in fact be adaptive in harsh environments that lack predictable interpersonal interactions. In evolutionary psychology, this process of psychological “calibration” to early environments corresponds to life history strategy (LHS). In this article, we tested the relationship between EA and LHS in 177 (40 male) individuals who completed the Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS), Arizona Life History Battery (short form: K-SF-42), and 2 measures of early abuse/neglect. Significantly lower EA was observed in those with faster LHS and who had experienced greater early adversity. Notably, LEAS was associated with differences in (a) general reflective cognition, and (b) emotional support from parents during childhood.",

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AU - Allen, John J.B.

AU - Lane, Richard D.

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Lower Emotional Awareness Is Associated With Greater Early Adversity and Faster Life History Strategy

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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