The Cinderella Effect shows the negative side to the Parental Investment Theory.  This concept discusses why there are higher rates of abuse and maltreatment in homes where one of the adults is a step-parent.  According to the Parental Investment Theory, humans want to continue their bloodline in the next generation. However, because a step-parent isn't biologically related, there is less of an incentive to provide for their step-children. 

The Cinderella Effect in Parental Investment Theory

The idea that the largest motivation parents have in providing a good upbringing and environment for their children to develop is so they can pass their genes onto future generations.

Haverford College in Pennsylvania

Main points that encompass evolutionary theories in child development:
- natural selection 
-  adaptation (genes, brain size, etc.)
- the concept of "play" being evolutionary

Evolutionary Theories in Child Development

Siegler, R., Saffran, J. R., Eisenberg, N., Deloache, J., &amp; Gershoff, E. (2017). How Children Develop (5th ed.). Worth Publishers, Inc.

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