David Aguilar

David has a keen interest in Latinx and Chicanx agency and representation in research and academia. His primary interests are in community-engaged collaborative research, oral histories of environmental injustice in unincorporated communities of color in Los Angeles, and the interplay between evolutionary psychology, evolutionary biology, and sociocultural variables in the context of Chicanx and Latinx life experiences. His research project for this program takes on an interdisciplinary approach to explore life history theory and its intersection with cultural influences on reproductive behaviors within Latinx communities in East Los Angeles. This study aims to bridge the gap between evolutionary biology, evolutionary psychology, and sociocultural anthropology by examining how cultural norms, environmental circumstances, and social factors shape the reproductive strategies and outcomes of Latinx adults. Through a mixed-methods approach, this project weighs the applicability of life history theory by comparing its determining factors and features with individual narratives and explanations of lived experiences. This research examines individual responses to reproductive strategies, such as age of first childbirth, perceived parental investment, and number of offspring. Additionally, his project tracks sociocultural variables, such as cultural practices and beliefs specific to Mexican and Mexican-American Latinas/os in East Los Angeles and socioeconomic status. This research offers a fresh perspective on human behavior by challenging deterministic biological models and emphasizing community-engaged perceptions and narratives, underscoring the importance of holistic approaches in evolutionary models and predictive reproduction frameworks.