Human rape: An evolutionary analysis

Thornhill, Randy; Thornhill, Nancy Wilmsen

doi:10.1016/0162-3095(83)90027-4

Cited by 355 publications

(114 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…Non-reproductive-age females are raped, although the rates are lower than for reproductive-age females (Thornhill & Thornhill, 1983). The present research replicated this pattern for multiple-offender rapes that end in murder (see also Shackelford, in press;Wilson et al, 1997).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

“…According to this perspective, reproductive-age females are at greater risk for rape precisely because they are capable of bearing offspring. Of those males in our evolutionary history who raped a female, males who raped reproductive-age females would have outreproduced males who raped non-reproductive-age females (see Thornhill & Palmer, 2000;Thornhill & Thornhill, 1983, 1992. According to this perspective, modern male psychology might include mechanisms ''designed'' by natural selection to motivate rape of reproductive-age females.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some females are at greater risk than are others, however. Working from an evolutionary perspective, Thornhill and Thornhill (1983) hypothesized and found that reproductive-age females (roughly thirteen to forty-nine years) are at greater risk for rape, relative to non-reproductive-age females. According to this perspective, reproductive-age females are at greater risk for rape precisely because they are capable of bearing offspring.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Risk of multiple-offender rape–murder varies with female age

Shackelford

2002

Journal of Criminal Justice

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Previous work inspired by an evolutionary perspective found that reproductive-age females are at special risk for single-offender rape and rape -murder, relative to non-reproductive-age females. The current research replicated and extended these findings to multiple-offender rape -murder. The author obtained access to a national database of homicides and selected for analysis cases in which a female was (a) raped and murdered by at least two males previously unknown to her, or (b) murdered in the context of theft by at least two males previously unknown to her. The results supported an evolutionary psychological hypothesis and refuted a competing routine activities hypothesis, indicating that (a) young men are the primary perpetrators of multiple-offender rape -murder and theft -murder, (b) reproductive-age women are overrepresented among victims of multiple-offender rapemurder, but (c) are underrepresented among the victims of multiple-offender theft -murder. The discussion addresses questions generated by these findings that challenge a simple evolutionary perspective on rape. D

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 75%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Risk of multiple-offender rape–murder varies with female age

Shackelford

2002

Journal of Criminal Justice

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“…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 func-tions as a facultative male reproductive tactic that contributes directly to reproductive success by increasing number of sexual partners (e.g., Shields and Shields 1983;Thornhill and Thornhill 1983). The other hypothesis posits that there was no direct selection for rape over evolutionary history, but instead it is a by-product of other male psychological adaptations, particularly those associated with sexual variety and aggression (Palmer 1991;Thornhill and Palmer 2000).…”

Section: Sexual Coercion and Forced In-pair Copulation As Sperm Compementioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual coercion and forced in-pair copulation as sperm competition tactics in humans

Goetz

Shackelford

2006

Hum Nat

130

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Rape of women by men might be generated either by a specialized rape adaptation or as a by-product of other psychological adaptations. Although increasing number of sexual partners is a proposed benefit of rape according to the "rape as an adaptation" and the "rape as a by-product" hypotheses, neither hypothesis addresses directly why some men rape their long-term partners, to whom they already have sexual access. In two studies we tested specific hypotheses derived from the general hypothesis that sexual coercion in the context of an intimate relationship may function as a sperm competition tactic. We hypothesized that men's sexual coercion in the context of an intimate relationship is related positively to his partner's perceived infidelities and that men's sexual coercion is related positively to their mate retention behaviors (behaviors designed to prevent a partner's infidelity). The results from Study 1 (self-reports from 246 men) and Study 2 (partner-reports from 276 women) supported the hypotheses. The Discussion section addresses limitations of this research and highlights future directions for research on sexual coercion in intimate relationships.

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“…With the continued growth of the AFS population at Marion Island (Hofmeyr et al 1997;Hofmeyr et al 2006) the population might be reaching levels where there exists increasing competition for access to females. The observed behaviour may then be explained by the 'mate deprivation hypothesis' (Thornhill and Thornhill 1983;Thornhill and Thornhill 1992) which states that males with limited access to females are more likely to sexually coerce. The events took place on an AFS bachelor's beach or on beaches with very small AFS rookeries.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%