Quote:
Originally Posted by jammies
In The Red Queen - a book I highly recommend, by the way - the author discusses how this type of scenario is an evolutionary strategy for women. It makes sense, from a strictly functional perspective, to seek 2 different kinds of men: one is the life partner, who is a reliable sort who can be depended upon not to abandon her and/or the children; the other is the sexual partner, who is not particularly reliable, but who perceived as having the potential to father better children.
Obviously a good deal for the woman if she can get it, and he goes into detail of how this strategy evolved in terms of game theory, where the average outcome for this type of scenario works out positively in the long run for a sizable minority of the female population. However, with paternity tests no doubt becoming easier and easier to have done as time goes on, I think there will be huge societal consequences when it becomes evident just how widespread and pervasive this type of situation really is. |
I read an interesting article once about the evolutionary history of human sexual promiscuity. The article discussed factors going back to when humans were nomadic tribesmen. The author argued that it was more likely, natural even, for men than women to seek out multiple partners. In mankind's early years there was a strong imperative in men to spread their seed far and wide to propagate the species and ensure its survival. As a result, the male who fertilized the most females spread his genetics farther and wider than a male with a low sex drive who only fertilized one or two females. The result, according to the author, was that men evolved with a genetic inclination towards promiscuity.
Women on the other hand bore the primary responsibility for raising all those little cave kids. Women, therefore, looked for a more loyal, monogamous type male for a partner as they wanted/needed the support and dependability of such males to help them provide for and raise the cave kids. As a result, women have evolved with a genetic tendency towards monogamy and stability in their relationships with men.
Basically, according to the author, men have a primal tendency towards promiscuity as their instinctive way to propagate the species, which by its very nature has a greater tendency to be passed along genetically. However, women's primal tendency for propagating the species is the complete opposite ... monogamous, stable, dependable, long term relationships.
Thus, the age old struggle between men and women can be traced back to the very origin of our species and is a primal and basic part of our very nature. At least that was the thesis of the guy I read. It was a few years ago so I forget who he was, but it was an article in archeology magazine I sometimes buy and as I recall he was an anthropologist. I thought it was an interesting theory at least. It would be interesting to see some guy plead "I couldn't help it Your Honour, I'm genetically programmed to be a slut and boink bar maids" as his defense in a divorce case.