Knowra Cinderella effect Cinderella effect The proposed tendency for children to face greater risk of abuse or neglect from stepparents than from genetic parents. Its existence, size, and explanation remain disputed.
Parent–offspring conflict : An evolutionary conflict arising because a parent's and offspring's genetic interests overlap but are not identical. The hypothesis predicts that genetic relatedness shapes caregivers’ willingness to invest in children.
Martin Daly : A Canadian evolutionary psychologist known for research on homicide, family relations, and risk-sensitive decision-making. His work with Margo Wilson helped formulate and publicize the Cinderella-effect hypothesis.
Parental favoritism : Unequal treatment of children by a parent or caregiver. Differences in treatment can occur within genetic families, complicating a simple kinship contrast.
Attachment theory : A psychological framework describing how early caregiver relationships shape patterns of emotional bonding and security. It emphasizes caregiving relationships and child outcomes without reducing them to genetic relatedness.
Inclusive fitness : An individual's evolutionary success through both personal reproduction and effects on the reproduction of genetic relatives. It supplies the kin-selection framework used to explain proposed differences in parental treatment.
Margo Wilson : A Canadian evolutionary psychologist whose research examined homicide, family relations, and human social behavior. Her collaboration with Martin Daly shaped the hypothesis and its early empirical tests.
Socioeconomic status : A measure of social position based on factors such as income, education, and occupation. Economic hardship can affect both family structure and child welfare, confounding comparisons.
Child welfare : Policies and services intended to protect children's safety, health, and development. Risk assessment must guide protection without treating stepparent status as proof of danger.
Parental investment : Resources and effort devoted to offspring that increase their survival or reproduction while limiting investment elsewhere. The hypothesis concerns whether stepparents invest less in children they are not genetically related to.
Stepfamily : A family in which at least one adult has a child from a previous relationship. Stepparent–stepchild relationships are the central family comparison in the hypothesis.
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