Inclusive Fitness, Altruism and Family Adaptation

An integrative model of family functioning is put forward using a sociobiological framework. Three key socio-biological concepts that have a relevance to family interaction are inclusive fitness, altruism, and a struggle for status. The term ‘inclusive fitness’ encompasses the parents’ own fitness and that of their kith and kin. Altruism refers to how parents promote the survival of their progeny and extended family. The struggle for status refers to a struggle for power and prestige. According to the author's hypothesis ‘inclusive fitness’ exerts its influence through the struggle for status which in turn influences the degree of altruism and the level of ‘family adaptation’. The parents’ level of inclusive fitness largely determines the level of family adaptation which in turn influences the growth and individuation of the next generation. A common negative outcome of failure in the struggle for status and power is a displacement of the struggle for power into a family context. Failure in a struggle for status between peer group members would in a pre-technological society probably have reflected a relative lack of fitness. Failure in the struggle for status is likely to generate maladaptive cycles in the family which will lower the inclusive fitness of the parents. A concept of ideal family functioning is derived from sociobiology and specifically related to a high inclusive fitness in the parents. The author argues that sociobiological concepts can contribute to the development of an integrative theory of family behaviour. The clinical implications of this model are explored.