Right-libertarian views on divorce causes in the light of evolutionary psychology

Łukasz Mirocha

doi:10.25167/FF/5584

Published: 2025-12-12

Vol. 15 (2025)

Right-libertarian views on divorce causes in the light of evolutionary psychology

Łukasz Mirocha

Family Forum

Section: Varia (o rodzinie)

https://doi.org/10.25167/FF/5584

Abstract

The article aims to present and discuss the profound right-libertarian approach to marriage and the reasons for its dissolution. It also compares contemporary libertarian contributions to the subject with the achievements of evolutionary psychology, a recent development of the Darwinian approach, considering that early libertarianism has been associated with social Darwinism. The article underscores that most libertarians perceive marriage as a contract; however, more conservative right-libertarians emphasize the social value of this institution instead of the form of its arrangement, a perspective that holds significant implications for the issue under study. Evolutionary psychology investigates and explains human behaviors and attitudes as evolutionary adaptations, which concerns, e.g., differences in involvement in child-rearing between the two sexes. Both the libertarian and evolutionary approaches reach similar conclusions regarding the topic at hand. They view marriage as a means for spouses to support each other mutually and argue that this purpose is undermined if another entity can take on the role of one of the spouses. Libertarians believe that the state, particularly the welfare state, replaces spouses in their functions, leading to higher divorce rates. Advocates of evolutionary psychology can subscribe to this claim.

Keywords:

libertarianism, evolutionary psychology, marriage, divorce, marriage dissolution, childcare, parental investment theory

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Mirocha, Łukasz. (2025). Right-libertarian views on divorce causes in the light of evolutionary psychology. Family Forum, 15, 337–358. https://doi.org/10.25167/FF/5584

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