Relationship Between Objective Risk of Female Infidelity and Sexual Coercion McKibbin, W. F., Shakelford, T. K., Starratt, V. G., & Goetz, A. T. (2011). Perceived risk of female infidelity moderates the relationship between objective risk of female infidelity and sexual coercion in humans (homo sapiens). Journal of Comparative Psychology, 125(3), Gloria Gutierrez, Courtney Picciolo, and Jenna Dato-on

Previous Research agrees that… Female extra-pair copulation initiates sperm competition, a phenomenon in which the sperm of more than one male occupies a female’s reproductive tract. In-pair copulation, as soon as possible, following female extra-pair copulation reduces the likelihood of cuckoldry (male providing resources and investment in offspring that are not genetically his own). Cuckoldry is an adaptive problem for males of many species, including socially monogamous ones (ex. avian species); evidence that this occurs in humans is growing. Human males have the adaptive problem of cuckoldry and have adapted a psychological mechanism in response- the desire to copulate with their female partner motivates a man to behave in ways that will get him to copulation. Human males who have been separated from their female partner for greater proportions of time since their last in-pair copulation report an increased interest in copulating with their female partner. Human males who have been separated from their female partner for greater proportions of time since their last in-pair copulation report using more mate retention behaviors.

Hypothesis The greater the proportion of time that a man spends separated from his female partner following the couple’s last in-pair copulation, the more that a man will display sexually coercive behaviors.

Findings Results were consistent with existing work demonstrating that cuckoldry is an adaptive problem for human males and that motivation to copulate with their female partner as soon as they can after extra- pair copulation to ignite sperm competition is the adaptive response. Men will behave in ways to coerce their female partner to copulate. Results were consistent with hypothesis: the greater the proportion of time spent apart after in-pair copulation, the more the males behaved in ways to get their female partner to copulate again. Research found that perceived risk of female infidelity was a moderating factor in the relationship between proportion of time spent apart and sexually coercive behavior.

Critical Review Positives ◦ There is a large body of research to support this claim and to support that these males have evolved an effective response to female extrapair copulation (EPC) ◦ The study covered a wide range of mate retention behaviors ◦ Perceived female infidelity is an important factor.

Critical Review cont. Negatives ◦ Because the results were a correlation—it cannot predict what factor influences the other ◦ The study assumes that one-time assessment of proportion of time spent apart since last in-pair copulation accurately reflects typical recent proportions of time spent apart since last in- pair copulation. ◦ In future research potential moderators, such as female ovulatory status, can be investigated further

Test questions 1. _______________ is the term for a male providing resources and investment in offspring that are not genetically his own a)Copulation b)Cuckoldry c)Coercion d) Competition 2. Cuckoldry is an adaptive problem that only applies to humans a)True b)False 3. Human males who have been separated from their female partner for greater proportions of time since their last in-pair copulation report a decreased interest in copulating with their female partner. a)True b)False 4. It was hypothesized that: the greater the proportion of time that a man spends separated from his female partner following the couple’s last in-pair copulation, the more that man will ___________. a)Abuse the partner b) Invest less time into the relationship c)Display sexually coercive behavior d) Buy the partner nice gifts as bribes 5. Cuckoldry is an adaptive problem for human males and that motivation to copulate with their female partner as soon as they can, after they have sex with someone else, to _____________ is the adaptive response. a)Leave the partner b)Ignite sperm competition c)Copulate with another female d)All of the above 6. Result were moderated by the perceived risk of female infidelity in the relationship between proportion of time spent apart and sexually coercive behavior. a)True b)False

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