In this project, we are leveraging genetic data and designs to test specific hypotheses related to evolutionary theories such as the sexual selection theory for music or Psychological Life History theory (LHT-P). For example, we could show that there is only very limited support for the sexual selection hypothesis underlying music evolution, which proposes that music evolved as a signal of genetic quality to potential mates. Namely, contrary to predictions, we found that musically skilled and active individuals did not have greater mating success than less-skilled individuals, and although musical ability was partly associated with other traits putatively related to genetic quality, these associations were mostly non-genetic. This would suggest that alternative explanations and theories may better explain music evolution. Currently we are exploring the relationship between stressful life events and life history strategy (according to LHT-P), testing whether any observed associations are in line with a causal scenario as the theory would propose, or rather due to familial confounding.