# Fitness is a group measurement function

Things which appear to be good for the *individual* are not necessarily selected for, like selfishness (which benefits you by harming those around you).  Things which appear bad for the individual are not necessarily selected _against_, like altruism (the reverse): Getting yourself killed is (obviously) not good *for you*.  So why did this behavior develop?  Why would evolution keep it around?  The reason is evolution isn't concerned _with you_.  It doesn't even care about you.  It cares about _the population_.

# Danger weeds out the weak

Sure, this is a very noisy selection mechanism.  Certain kinds of danger will kill _anybody_.  But many kinds of danger will kill weak or stupid elves much more readily than more resilient individuals.

Accordingly, a genetic predisposition to hiding behind mommy will tend to make it easier for less fit elves to survive long enough to spread their genes.  In contrast, a predilection for adventurous mischief will tend to get less hardy or intelligent elves killed at a higher rate.

In other words, this gene is bad for _individuals_ but good for _the population_ because it checks the spread of, and indeed works to eliminate, other genes which are harmful.