Model
Digital Document
Publisher
Florida Atlantic University
Description
Evolutionary theory predicts that sexual coercion and rape are likely to occur in
any species in which males are more aggressive, more eager to mate, more sexually
assertive, and less discriminating in choosing a mate (Thornhill & Palmer, 2000).
McKibbin and Shackelford (2011) state that males of many species have evolved
strategies to sexually coerce and rape females. It is for this reason that researchers have
speculated that several female traits or behaviors evolved to reduce the risks of being
raped (McKibbin & Shackelford, 2011). The rationale behind the proposed experiment
examined whether parents’ childrearing practices and women’s plasticity during
childhood may have influenced the development of psychological mechanisms in
response to the recurrent adaptive problem of rape. Analyses showed that maternal
support during childhood predicted how frequently rape-avoidance behaviors were
exhibited by women as adults. Analyses also showed that father absence was related to earlier sexual activity but age of menarche did not predict and was not associated with
any rape-avoidance behaviors.
any species in which males are more aggressive, more eager to mate, more sexually
assertive, and less discriminating in choosing a mate (Thornhill & Palmer, 2000).
McKibbin and Shackelford (2011) state that males of many species have evolved
strategies to sexually coerce and rape females. It is for this reason that researchers have
speculated that several female traits or behaviors evolved to reduce the risks of being
raped (McKibbin & Shackelford, 2011). The rationale behind the proposed experiment
examined whether parents’ childrearing practices and women’s plasticity during
childhood may have influenced the development of psychological mechanisms in
response to the recurrent adaptive problem of rape. Analyses showed that maternal
support during childhood predicted how frequently rape-avoidance behaviors were
exhibited by women as adults. Analyses also showed that father absence was related to earlier sexual activity but age of menarche did not predict and was not associated with
any rape-avoidance behaviors.
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