Males can
use both short term and long term mating strategies to maximise chances of
reproduction. Long term strategies involve investing time and energy over a
number of years supporting the mate in bringing up the child. Unless the man
prevents the women from having relationships with other men, through mate
guarding, he can never be certain he is the father of the child. Male sexual
jealousy may therefore have evolved to prevent infidelity by women and reduce
the risk of cuckoldry.
Mate guarding may also be used in short term strategies. In the
context of a 'one night stand' men can have sex with the female with little
biological cost. They may then want to keep the female away from other males,
in order for them to maximise the chance of their child being born, with the
immediate motivator for this likely to be jealously.
Shackleton et al demonstrated the link between mate retention,
jealously and violence. A positive correlation was found between men using more
mate retention techniques and more violence supporting the theory of jealously
being linked to long term mate retention strategies. Within a committed
relationship the female would have taken some of the male's resources,
therefore he will show signs of jealously and violence in order to protect
these resources. Methodological issues occur as questionnaires were used which
may have affected the accuracy of responses therefore reducing reliability and
validity of findings. This is a sensitive topic, and asking those to describe
violence with current partners may lead to social desirability with participants
responding in a way that will allow them to be viewed favourably by others,
they may not be truthful in answers, therefore invalidating results.
An important implication of research is early male retention strategies
could be used as an early warning that males may show violence towards the
female partners in the future. This findings from such studies could be used to
alert friends and family to danger signs which could lead to future aggressive
acts.
Camilleir and Quinsey found men convicted of raping their partners
were more likely to have experienced cuckoldry risks previously, compared to
men convicted of non-sexual abuse. This supports an evolutionary explanation
suggesting jealously can reduce risk of mate infidelity as if they sexually
assert themselves this will reduce the risk of the female having an affair and
reducing the risk of cuckoldry and investing resources in offspring which isn't
theirs. However, individual differences are not accounted, confounding
variables such as innate aggressive tendencies, may increase chances of men
acting physically or sexually aggressive. Today we are not exposed to the same evolutionary
pressures which once were, so assuming such pressures still affect our
behaviour is reductionist.
Both Shackleford, and Camilleir and Quinsey's studies highlight
that jealousy or the partners' infidelity can lead to increased levels of
aggression. However, such research focuses towards male mate retention strategies
and male violence against women. Although, women have also been observed to
engage in aggressive mate retention strategies. Research suggests women carry
out violent behaviour towards their partners just as often as men do,
suggesting possible gender bias in majority of research.
Evolutionary determinism ignores the role of free will, however
some evolutionary psychologist argue free will is an adaption as it improves
our chances of survival for example evolutionary pressures give men the drive
to use mate retention strategies, but they chose which ones they use. However,
such an approach cannot explain why individuals use different strategies when
faced with the same issue. Problems also arise as this approach, of accepted
could take responsibility away from aggressive male retention strategies,
providing an excuse for behaviour.
Evolutionary explanations of infidelity and jealously can be taken
to suggest aggression is entire due to evolved responses, which is
reductionist. Therefore suggesting aggression is purely due to evolution is
largely speculative and cannot provide a suitable explanation for our complex
social interaction processes.
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