Are you sure that the correlation between immune health during childhood and all of those positive attributes is causal?
Superficially, it seems more plausible that the causation starts much earlier, via mutational load or specific conditions during the gestation period. Though I suppose that it is also possible that health in the womb and health during early childhood could both effect adult outcomes.
Yeah, sorry, I should have been more clear there. The mechanisms which trade off immune strength against other things are the underlying cause. Testosterone levels in males are a good example—higher testosterone increases attractiveness, physical strength, and spatial-visual reasoning, but it’s an immune suppressor.
Are you sure that the correlation between immune health during childhood and all of those positive attributes is causal?
Superficially, it seems more plausible that the causation starts much earlier, via mutational load or specific conditions during the gestation period. Though I suppose that it is also possible that health in the womb and health during early childhood could both effect adult outcomes.
Yeah, sorry, I should have been more clear there. The mechanisms which trade off immune strength against other things are the underlying cause. Testosterone levels in males are a good example—higher testosterone increases attractiveness, physical strength, and spatial-visual reasoning, but it’s an immune suppressor.