This article argues for the value of interdisciplinarity by attempting to integrate an evolutionary theory of human ontogeny with psychodynamic perspectives to explain the origins of an American cultural schema of marriage. Specifically, I draw on the work of evolutionary psychologist Michael Tomasello to propose that key features of the American “cultural” schema for marriage—commitment to it and the expectations it be shared, mutually beneficial, and lasting—are understandings that arise largely out of young human children's capabilities for emotional alignment or attunement and, thereafter, for fully developed joint intentionality. This focus of the American marital relationship on joint intentionality, and on even earlier beginnings of shared intentionality, I interpret as evidence—drawing on psychodynamic theory—that marriage as an American institution is largely a defense, a regression, that allows a return or “retreat” to feelings of dependency never fully resolved in adulthood because of the extreme emphasis on independence and self‐reliance in American child‐rearing. [cultural schemas, defense mechanisms, evolutionary psychology, marriage]

中文翻译：

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从人类进化的角度重新审视美国婚姻

本文通过尝试将人类本体论的进化论与心理动力学观点相结合来解释美国婚姻文化图式的起源，从而证明了跨学科的价值。具体而言，我借鉴进化心理学家迈克尔·托马塞洛（Michael Tomasello）的工作，提出美国婚姻“文化”图式的主要特征（对婚姻的承诺以及对婚姻的共同期望，互利和持久的期望）主要是出于对婚姻的理解。年幼儿童的情绪调和或协调能力，以及之后充分发展的共同意图能力。美国婚姻关系的重点是共同意图，甚至更早开始有共同意图，我根据心理动力学理论解释为证据，即婚姻作为一种美国制度，在很大程度上是一种防御，是一种消退，它允许回归或“撤退”成年后由于完全强调独立性和自我而从未完全解决的依赖感。对美国育儿的依赖。[文化图式，防御机制，进化心理学，婚姻]