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Operational and conceptual confusion in life history research necessitates the two-tiered model

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 November 2025

Heather Maria Maranges Open the ORCID record for Heather Maria Maranges [Opens in a new window]  and
Casey Lee Timbs
Heather Maria Maranges*
Affiliation:
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA maranges@psy.fsu.edu timbs@psy.fsu.edu
Casey Lee Timbs
Affiliation:
Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA maranges@psy.fsu.edu timbs@psy.fsu.edu
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

Our systematic analysis of operationalizations and conceptualizations of harshness (extrinsic mortality) and unpredictability in the (psychology) life history literature highlights that (1) employment of extremely diverse measures contributes to the confusion about the effect of harshness on life history traits and (2) few measures reflect energetic stress or ambient EM, such that Ellis et al.’s two-tiered model should motivate future research.

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Open Peer Commentary
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Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 48 , 2025 , e115
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© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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