Gillian Bentley is a biological anthropologist and reproductive ecologist and a Royal Society Research Fellow at University College London. Her prior work focused on explaining why different human populations occupying a range of environments have varying levels of reproductive hormones. She now directs projects that interface with reproduction and reproductive health, working with the migrant Bangladeshi community in London. Recent publications include Infertility in the Modern World: Present and Future Prospects, edited with C.G.N. Mascie-Taylor (Cambridge University Press, 2000). Ruth Mace is Professor of Evolutionary Anthropology at University College London. She works on the evolutionary ecology of social and subsistence systems. Particular interests include parental investment, mainly in African populations but also in the UK, and also macro-evolutionary studies on the evolution of cultural diversity. Recent publications include The Evolution of Cultural Diversity: A Phylogenetic Approach, edited with C. Holden and S. Shennan (UCL Press, 2005).

• List of Tables List of Figures Prologue: Allomothers across Species, across Cultures, and through Time Sarah Hardy Chapter 1. The Pros and Cons of Substitute Parenting: An Overview Gillian R. Bentley and Ruth Mace PART I: ALLOPARENTAL STRATEGIES Chapter 2. The Biological Basis of Alloparental Behaviour in Mammals Nancy G. Solomon and Loren D. Hayes Chapter 3. Family Matters: Kin, Demography and Child Health in a Rural Gambian Population Rebecca Sear and Ruth Mace Chapter 4. Does It Take a Family to Raise a Child? Cooperative Breeding and the Contributions of Maya Siblings, Parents and Older Adults in Raising Children Karen L. Kramer Chapter 5. Flexible Caretakers: Responses of Toba Families in Transition Claudia R. Valeggia Chapter 6. Who Minds the Baby? Beng Perspectives on Mothers, Neighbours and Strangers as Caretakers Alma Gottlieb Chapter 7. Economic Perspectives on Alloparenting Gillian Paull Chapter 8. The School as Alloparent Berry Mayall Chapter 9. Th e Parenting and Substitute Parenting of Young Children Helen Penn Chapter 10. Adoption, Adopters and Adopted Children: An Evolutionary Perspective David Howe Chapter 11. Surrogacy: Th e Experiences of Commissioning Couples and Surrogate Mothers Emma Lycett PART II: The Effect of Alloparenting on Children Chapter 12. Alloparenting in the Context of AIDS in Southern Africa: Complex Strategies for Care Lorraine van Blerk and Nicola Ansell Chapter 13. Alloparental Care and the Ontogeny of Glucocorticoid Stress Response among Stepchildren Mark V. Flinn and David Leone Chapter 14. Separation Stress in Early Childhood: Harmless Side Effect of Modern Care-giving Practices or Risk Factor for Development? Joachim Bensel Chapter 15. Quality, Quantity and Type of Childcare: Effects on Child Development in the U.S. Jay Belsky Chapter 16. 'It feels normal that other people are split up but not your Mum and Dad': Divorce through the Eyes of Children Margaret Robinson, Lesley Scanlan and Ian Butler Glossary List of Contributors Index

Select Guide Rating