Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Acknowledgments
- PART I INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
- PART II MATE GUARDING
- 3 Evidence for adaptations for female extra-pair mating in humans: thoughts on current status and future directions
- 4 Predicting violence against women from men's mate-retention behaviors
- 5 Sexual coercion and forced in-pair copulation as anti-cuckoldry tactics in humans
- PART III INTRAVAGINAL TACTICS: SPERM COMPETITION AND SEMEN DISPLACEMENT
- PART IV ASSESSING PATERNITY: THE ROLE OF PATERNAL RESEMBLANCE
- Index
- References
5 - Sexual coercion and forced in-pair copulation as anti-cuckoldry tactics in humans
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 January 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Acknowledgments
- PART I INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW
- PART II MATE GUARDING
- 3 Evidence for adaptations for female extra-pair mating in humans: thoughts on current status and future directions
- 4 Predicting violence against women from men's mate-retention behaviors
- 5 Sexual coercion and forced in-pair copulation as anti-cuckoldry tactics in humans
- PART III INTRAVAGINAL TACTICS: SPERM COMPETITION AND SEMEN DISPLACEMENT
- PART IV ASSESSING PATERNITY: THE ROLE OF PATERNAL RESEMBLANCE
- Index
- References
Summary
Introduction
Rape in humans may or may not be generated by specialized psychological adaptation (Alexander & Noonan, 1979; Palmer, 1991; Thornhill & Palmer, 2000; Thornhill & Thornhill, 1992). Although several hypotheses have been proposed, there are only two likely candidates for evolutionary explanations of rape in humans. One hypothesis posits that rape is generated by an adaptation that functions as a facultative male reproductive tactic that contributes directly to reproductive success by increasing sexual partner number (e.g. Shields & Shields, 1983; Thornhill & Thornhill, 1983). The other hypothesis posits that rape was not directly selected for over evolutionary history, but instead is a byproduct of other male psychological adaptations, particularly those associated with sexual variety and aggression (Palmer, 1991; Thornhill & Palmer, 2000).
Although the debate continues about whether human rape is generated by specialized adaptation or is generated as a byproduct, a special case of human rape presents an equally interesting question. If human rape is either due to selection pressures to increase sexual partner number, or due to other psychological adaptations, such as those associated with obtaining numerous sexual partners, then why do men in committed sexual relationships sometimes rape their partners? Researchers estimate that between 10 and 17% of women experience rape in marriage (Finkelhor & Yllo, 1985; Painter & Farrington, 1999; Russell, 1982). Moreover, particular subgroups of women may be especially at risk of experiencing rape in their marriage: 23–50% of physically abused women experience rape by their husbands (Bowker, 1983; Campbell, 1989; Frieze, 1983; Pagelow, 1981; Shields & Hanneke, 1983).
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Female Infidelity and Paternal UncertaintyEvolutionary Perspectives on Male Anti-Cuckoldry Tactics, pp. 82 - 100Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2006
References
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