Chapter 10. Human Mating Systems

NHP

Non-Human Primates

Inbreeding Avoidance In NHP’s

• Rarely mate with close relatives

• Age related

• Female chimps avoid mating with older males

• Male chimps uninterested in young females

Inbreeding Avoidance In Humans

• Some cultures and distant relatives its normal, but never with close relatives

• Non-related children raised together rarely marry

Male Mating Preference’s

• Paternal Investment High

• Females With Higher Potential Fertility

  • Correlated with age and physical appearance

• Sexual Fidelity

Female Mating Preference’s

• Maternal Investment High

• Males Who Provide Resources

• Minimal Concern On Age

• Sexual Fidelity Very Important

Both Sexes Mating Preference’s

• Physical Attraction & Love

• Stability, Sociability, Compatibility

Marriage

Unions formed for purpose of mating and rearing offspring

What Are The Functions Of Marriage?

• Minimize Male-To-Male Competition

• Protect Females From Mating Aggression

• Maximize Paternity Certainty

Polygyny

• Men having multiple wives

  • Less Than Wanted

Polyandry

• Women married to several men

  • Prefer males whose co-wives have produced fewest children

Monogamy

Man married to a single woman

Infi