The 2 Gardner evolution-aetiology theories

The child care theory is sometimes called in CL circles the "Uncle Chester" theory and related to kin selection, on the account that historically the groups that composed humankind were 50-150 people, and so any CLer would be related enough to any of their YFs to apply as kin selection.

I will add the two theories proposed by Richard Gardner - a late shrink who taught child and adolescent psychiatry in Columbia, apart from his private practice; and who became famous for siding with the defense, and expert witnessing for the defendants, in countless abuse cases, even during the height of the outrageous abuse accusations epidemic of the 1980s. He was one of the few voices in the trade to do so.

One of his theories is that non-reproductive sexual behaviors (from homosexuality and paedophilia to any "paraphilia") work to increase the general level of sexual arousal in society, which indirectly incentives reproductive sex, and is therefore evolutionarily desirable. Personally, I think the theory could work, but I don't think it is really falsifiable - not "structurally", but in reality I don't see a way to falsify it.

The second theory is more directly related to paedophilia, more intuitive, and more scientifically testable and falsifiable (albeit not much - ethical and logistical issues alike). It is also supported by some CLers at least partially. The theory is that paedophilia helps lower the age of sexual debut of a society's children. In a society without paedophiles, children would start having sex after puberty, probably wasting reproductive cycles in chastity, and certainly having to "learn the ropes" at a relatively high age. With paedophiles, children's sexual debut is brought to a younger age, so they learn sexual skills before puberty. And when they become fertile, it is likely they will be reproducing right from the very first chances. This, of course, increases their total fertility over a lifetime, at any given average life expectancy or average age of puberty onset. Which is evolutionarily desirable. And which personally resonates somewhat with my own attractions, too. (*evil grin*).