Answer
When individuals leave their wealth to closer kin, they are ensuring their own bloodline's reproductive continuation, which then increases their own fitness--even if after death. The writers of the wills in Vancouver may have discounted distant kin more steeply than expected due to emotional involvement, as well. As individuals likely have an emotional attachment to closer family members, this emotional factor could have played a role in the decisions to leave wealth to closer kin. Some individuals may choose to invest in distant kin due to emotional involvement, as well. Some may have close relationships with distant relatives. Some may feel a sense of obligation to leave some wealth to distant relatives. Additionally, there may be a primal sense to spread the wealth as far as it will go, to once again ensure the promotion of one's own bloodline.
Work Step by Step
When individuals leave their wealth to closer kin, they are ensuring their own bloodline's reproductive continuation, which then increases their own fitness--even if after death. The writers of the wills in Vancouver may have discounted distant kin more steeply than expected due to emotional involvement, as well. As individuals likely have an emotional attachment to closer family members, this emotional factor could have played a role in the decisions to leave wealth to closer kin. Some individuals may choose to invest in distant kin due to emotional involvement, as well. Some may have close relationships with distant relatives. Some may feel a sense of obligation to leave some wealth to distant relatives. Additionally, there may be a primal sense to spread the wealth as far as it will go, to once again ensure the promotion of one's own bloodline.
