Why do human and non-human species conceal mating? The cooperation maintenance hypothesis

Abstract

Despite considerable cultural differences, a striking uniformity is argued to exist in human preferences for concealing sexual intercourse from the sensory perception of conspecifics. However, no systematic accounts support this claim, with only limited attempts to understand the selective pressures acting on the evolution of this preference. Here, I combine cross-cultural and cross-species comparative approaches to investigate these topics. First, an analysis of more than 4572 ethnographies from 249 cultures presents systematic evidence that the preference to conceal mating is widespread across cultures. Second, I argue that current anthropological hypotheses do not sufficiently explain why habitual concealment of mating evolved in humans but is only seldom exhibited by other social species. Third, I introduce the cooperation maintenance hypothesis, which postulates that humans, and a specific category of non-human species, conceal matings to prevent sexual arousal in witnesses (proximate explanation). This allows them to simultaneously maintain mating control over their partner(s) and cooperation with group members who are prevented from mating (ultimate explanations). I conclude by presenting a comparative framework and predictions to be tested across species and human cultures.

Nocturnal selective pressures on the evolution of human musicality as a missing piece of the adaptationist puzzle

“…Thus, by enabling high disinhibition, social proximity, emotional sensitiveness, risk-taking, hedonism, entertainment, creativity, and low self-control, the expanded nocturnal niche has favored an intense peruse of sexuality goals. As humans are among the rare animal species exhibiting indirect/covert courtship ( Gersick and Kurzban, 2014 ) and private sexual intercourse ( Ben Mocha, 2020 ), possibly because of the third-party costs (a jealous partner/competitor intercepting) among other reasons, it makes sense that humans lose their virginity at night ( Barak et al, 1997 ) and exhibit the major peak of sexual activity at night, after 21:00 ( Refinetti, 2005 ; Jankowski et al, 2014 ). Moreover, evening-oriented individuals tend to be single ( Maestripieri, 2014 ), be more flirtations later in the day and have more sexual partners ( Gunawardane et al, 2011 ), lose virginity early in life and have a short-term relationship orientation ( Kasaeian et al, 2019 ), be more inclined to casual sex ( Cross, 2010 ; Piffer, 2010 ; Matchock, 2018 ; Díaz-Morales et al, 2019 ), and have a fast life-history strategy ( Ponzi et al, 2015b ; Marvel-Coen et al, 2018) .…”

Are you my baby? Testing whether paternity affects behavior of cobreeder male acorn woodpeckers

“…Instead, females engage in cryptic sexual behavior, possibly copulating inside roosting cavities (Brownson 2015). Cryptic sexual behavior may reduce conflict among males and obscure paternity (Møller and Birkhead 1993), thereby minimizing the possibility that some males will reduce provisioning at the nest (Westneat et al 1990;Ben Mocha 2020). Since we do not observe copulations, we cannot test the hypothesis that male paternal care is dependent on copulating with the breeder female.…”

Romantic Love and Sleep Variations: Potential Proximate Mechanisms and Evolutionary Functions

“…It has been postulated that nocturnal wakefulness could protect against attacks by animals or humans [ 110 ]. In the context of a newly formed romantic relationship, a couple may find themselves sleeping in areas alone, or away from other members of their group because humans conceal mating (see [ 111 ] for theory on why this is the case). As a result, they may be at greater risk of harm from animals or other humans.…”