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A New Niche? The Theory of Grandfather Involvement

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Book cover Grandfathers

Part of the book series: Palgrave Macmillan Studies in Family and Intimate Life ((PSFL))

Abstract

A multitude of factors influence the role a grandfather plays in his family. This chapter presents an interdisciplinary perspective of grandfathering, incorporating research from the fields of evolutionary biology, sociology, economics and psychology. Examples will be used to show how these perspectives complement rather than compete with each other. A range of influences on grandfathering operating at the individual, familial and broader economic and cultural levels will be examined. Evidence points to grandfathering filling a new niche in modern societies: changing demographics mean there is greater need and opportunity for actively engaged grandfathers to help their families, especially in times of need. Recent empirical findings will be used to illustrate these points, providing a basis for the more detailed information presented throughout the following chapters.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medical Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, WA, Australia

    David A. Coall

  2. University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

    Sonja Hilbrand

  3. Max Planck Institute of Human Development, Berlin, Germany

    Sonja Hilbrand

  4. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK

    Rebecca Sear

  5. Centre for Adaptive Rationality, Max Planck Institute for Human Development, Berlin, Germany

    Ralph Hertwig

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  1. David A. Coall
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  2. Sonja Hilbrand
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  4. Ralph Hertwig
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Correspondence to David A. Coall .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Oxford, United Kingdom

    Ann Buchanan

  2. Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

    Anna Rotkirch

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Coall, D.A., Hilbrand, S., Sear, R., Hertwig, R. (2016). A New Niche? The Theory of Grandfather Involvement. In: Buchanan, A., Rotkirch, A. (eds) Grandfathers. Palgrave Macmillan Studies in Family and Intimate Life. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56338-5_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-56338-5_2

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