Date of Award
2005
Document Type
Thesis
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
October 2026
Thesis/Dissertation Advisor [Chair]
Shackelford, Todd K.
Abstract
Guarding oneself from cuckoldry can be a challenging task for males of socially monogamous species. Accordingly, human males may possess evolved psychological mechanisms designed to prevent their partner's infidelity, and to "correct" that infidelity if it occurs. Because preventative tactics are not failsafe, I hypothesized that men's reports of their mate-retention behaviors and copulation frequency would function as complimentary tactics (Study 1). Research has suggested that men's reports of their own anti-cuckoldry behaviors can be flawed, and that women may be more accurate. Therefore, Study 2 analyzed reports made by women of copulation frequency and their partner's mate-retention behaviors. In the two studies, the hypotheses that (1) men's reports of copulation frequency and their own mate-retention behaviors and (2) women's reports of copulation frequency and their partner's mate-retention behaviors would show positive correlations was supported. Discussion focuses on the use of copulation frequency and mate-retention behaviors as complimentary tactics in solving the adaptive problems of sperm competition and cuckoldry.
Extent
41 p.
Recommended Citation
Guta, Faith E., "Mate retention and copulation frequency in humans: Complementary anti-cuckoldry tactics" (2005). Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2000 - 2009. 902.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general_5/902
Identifier
FADT13277
Comments
Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2005.|Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2005.