Relational Aggression and Lifetime Offspring: A Preliminary Study in a Large Community-Based Sample of Polish Adults

Relational aggression is postulated as an alternative evolutionary strategy by which an individual may achieve social position as well as access to mates and resources in a covert manner, and avoid costs of overt confrontation. However, previous studies rarely focused on present-day natural selection for the disposition to be relationally aggressive in terms of ultimate indices of reproductive success (e.g., lifetime number of children). The present study addressed this limitation by studying links between peer-directed and romantic partner-directed relational aggression, and lifetime (age-controlled) offspring in a general Polish population (N = 1,497; Mage = 47.84; SDage = 15.73; 52.30% women). We used correlation analysis and fitted Poisson regression models. People high on peer-directed relational aggression have been involved in romantic relationships more frequently. After controlling for age, being involved in a romantic relationship and socioeconomic status, a higher disposition to be relationally aggressive toward one’s peers was associated with higher fertility. Among the romantically involved participants, romantic partner-directed relational aggression was also positively associated with fertility. The results indicated that relational aggression might be under weak, yet positive directional selection which has implications for understanding this form of aggressive behavior in present-day humans.