Behaviorism (Psychology)--Social aspects

Sperm competition theory states that in species 111 which females mate with
multiple males within a short period of time, not only will males have to compete
for mates, but they will have to compete for fertilizations and will subsequently
evolve tactics associated with competition for fertilization. It has been
hypothesized that sexual coercion in the context of an intimate relationship may
function as a sperm competition tactic, with its occurrence related to a man's
suspicions of his pmtner' s sexual infidelity. Sexual coercion in response to cues
of his partner's sexual infidelity might function to introduce a male's sperm into
his partner's reproductive tract at a time when there is a high risk of cuckoldry.
Four studies are presented which lend support to the sperm competition
hypothesis and encourage others to consider sperm competition theory when
studying men's sexual coercion in intimate relationships.

Men sometimes insult their intimate partners and these insults predict intimate
partner violence. No research has investigated the function of men's partner-directed
insults. I hypothesize that men's partner-directed insults are designed to retain their longterm
mate and, therefore, that men's use of partner-directed insults will covary with other
mate retention behaviors. Using the Mate Retention Inventory and the Partner-Directed
Insults Scale, I conducted two studies to test this hypothesis. Study 1 included 245 men
who reported their mate retention behaviors and partner-directed insults. Correlations and
multiple regression analyses documented the predicted relationships between men's
partner-directed insults and mate retention behaviors. Study 2 included 372 women who
reported their partner's mate retention behaviors and insults that their partner directed at
them. The results replicated the results of Study 1. Discussion highlights future directions
for investigating the relationships between men's partner-directed insults and mate
retention behaviors.

Given the negative psychological and health-related consequences of sexual coercion, recent research has focused on predicting sexual coercion. In two studies, I investigated the relationships between men's partner-directed sexually coercive behaviors and their use of partner-directed insults in the context of intimate relationships. Study 1 secured self-reports from 247 men on the Partner-Directed Insults Scale and the Sexual Coercion in Intimate Relationships Scale. Study 2 secured partner-reports from 378 women on the same measures. Across both studies, the results indicate that men's use of sexually coercive behaviors can be predicted by the frequency or content of the insults that men direct at their intimate partner. Insults involving accusations of a partner's infidelity were most useful in predicting sexual coercion, for example. Discussion addresses limitations of the current research and highlights important directions for future research in the area.