How might life history theory contribute to life course theory?

In this commentary, we consider how evolutionary biology’s life history theory (LHT) can be integrated with life course theorizing, to the benefit of both endeavors. We highlight areas where it can add value to existing work in life course theory (LCT), focusing on: how it can add an extra level of explanation, which may be helpful in understanding why individuals focus on their own health and happiness (or why they don’t); how insights from comparative work, both across species and across all kinds of human populations, can inform LCT; and how social and biological researchers can come together fruitfully to make progress on the tricky issue of understanding human agenc