Why Is Sex Fun?

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Why Is Sex Fun? Page 15

by Jared Diamond


  FURTHER READING

  For readers whose interest has been sufficiently aroused to read further, here are some suggestions. The first list consists of books on sexuality, behavior, primates, evolutionary reasoning, and related subjects. Many of them are written so as to be understandable to laypeople with no scientific training. They are available in large libraries, and many are still in print and available in bookstores. The second list consists of a dozen examples of technical articles, written for scientists and describing some of the specific studies that I discuss.

  BOOKS

  ····

  Alcock, John. Animal Behavior: An Evolutionary Approach. 5th ed. Sunderland, Mass.: Sinauer Associates, 1993.

  Austin, C. R., and R. V. Short. Reproduction in Mammals. 2d ed., vols. 1–5. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1982–86.

  Chagnon, Napoleon A., and William Irons, eds. Evolutionary Biology and Human Social Behavior: An Anthropological Perspective. North Scituate, Mass.: Duxbury Press, 1979.

  Cronin, Helena. The Ant and the Peacock: Altruism and Sexual Selection from Darwin to Today. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991.

  Daly, Martin, and Margo Wilson. Sex, Evolution, and Behavior. 2d ed. Boston: Willard Grant Press, 1983.

  Darwin, Charles. The Descent of Man, and Selection in Relation to Sex. London: Murray, 1871. Paperback reprint, Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1981.

  Diamond, Jared. The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal. New York: HarperCollins, 1992.

  Fedigan, Linda Marie. Primate Paradigms: Sex Roles and Social Bonds. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1992.

  Goodall, Jane. The Chimpanzees of Gombe: Patterns of Behavior. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1986.

  Halliday, Tim. Sexual Strategy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1980.

  Hrdy, Sarah Blaffer. The Woman That Never Evolved. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1981.

  Kano, T. Takayoshi. The Last Ape: Pygmy Chimpanzee Behavior and Ecology. Stanford, Calif.: Stanford University Press, 1992.

  Kevles, Bettyann. Females of the Species: Sex and Survival in the Animal Kingdom. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1986.

  Krebs, J. R., and N. B. Davies. Behavioural Ecology: An Evolutionary Approach. 3d ed. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1991.

  Ricklefs, Robert E., and Caleb E. Finch. Aging: A Natural History. New York: Scientific American Library, 1995.

  Rose, Michael R. Evolutionary Biology of Aging. New York: Oxford University Press, 1991.

  Small, Meredith F. Female Choices: Sexual Behavior of Female Primates. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1993.

  Smuts, Barbara B., Dorothy L. Cheney, Robert M. Seyfarth, Richard W. Wrangham, and Thomas T. Struhsaker, eds. Primate Societies. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1986.

  Symons, Donald. The Evolution of Human Sexuality. New York: Oxford University Press, 1979.

  Wilson, Edward O. Sociobiology: The New Synthesis. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1975.

  SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES

  ····

  Alexander, Richard D. “How Did Humans Evolve?” Special publication no. 1. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, Ann Arbor, 1990.

  Emlen, Stephen T., Natalie J. Demong, and Douglas J. Emlen. “Experimental Induction of Infanticide in Female Wattled Jacanas.” Auk 106 (1989): 1–7.

  Francis, Charles M., Edythe L. P. Anthony, Jennifer A. Brunton and Thomas H. Kunz. “Lactation in Male Fruit Bats.” Nature 367 (1994): 691–92.

  Gjershaug, Jan Ove, Torbjörn Järvi, and Eivin Røskaft. “Marriage Entrapment by ‘Solitary’ Mothers: A Study on Male Deception by Female Pied Flycatchers.” American Naturalist 133 (1989): 273–76.

  Greenblatt, Robert B. “Inappropriate Lactation in Men and Women.” Medical Aspects of Human Sexuality 6, no. 6 (1972): 25–33.

  Hawkes, Kristen. “Why Do Men Hunt? Benefits for Risky Choices.” In Risk and Uncertainty in Tribal and Peasant Economies, edited by Elizabeth Cashdan (pp. 145–66). Boulder, Colo.: Westview Press, 1990.

  Hawkes, Kristen, James F. O’Connell, and Nicholas G. Blurton Jones. “Hardworking Hadza Grandmothers.” In Comparative Socioecology: The Behavioral Ecology of Humans and Other Mammals, edited by V. Standen and R. A. Foley (pp. 341–66). Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1989.

  Hill, Kim, and A. Magdalena Hurtado. “The Evolution of Premature Reproductive Senescence and Menopause in Human Females: An Evaluation of the ‘Grandmother Hypothesis.’” Human Nature 2 (1991): 313–50.

  Kodric-Brown, Astrid, and James H. Brown. “Truth in Advertising: The Kinds of Traits Favored by Sexual Selection.” American Naturalist 124 (1984): 309–23.

  Oring, Lewis W., David B. Lank, and Stephen J. Maxson. “Population Studies of the Polyandrous Spotted Sandpiper.” Auk 100 (1983): 272–85.

  Sillén-Tulberg, Birgitta, and Anders P. Møller. “The Relationship Between Concealed Ovulation and Mating Systems in Anthropoid Primates: A Phylogenetic Analysis.” American Naturalist 141 (1993): 1–25.

  INDEX

  Aché Indians, hunting by men of, 93–98

  Adoptive mothers, lactation by, 51

  Adultery laws, confidence in paternity and, 37–38. See also Extramarital sex

  African elephants, menopause and, 125

  African hunting dogs: infanticide and, 73

  meat provisioning and, 92

  Aging, 109–10

  accidents and bad conditions and, 113–14

  animal signals indicating, 130

  human signals indicating, 135, 142

  kingpin principle of, 114–16

  repair and maintenance and, 109–13

  repair and reproduction and, 112–13

  signals indicating, 130, 135, 142

  Albatrosses: “divorce” rates and, 135

  eggs of, 108

  parental care and, 17

  Alexander, Richard, 71–73, 75

  Alligators, parental care and, 23

  American men, role of, 101–2

  Amphibians: external fertilization and, 21

  parental care and, 16

  vivipary and, 22

  Anatomical adaptations, natural selection and, 10–13

  Andaman Islands, fat in women of, 138

  Andelman, Sandy, 74–75

  Androgens, 45

  male pseudohermaphrodites and, 47

  Animal signals, 128–34

  age indicated by, 130

  auditory, 129

  behavioral, 129

  in birds, 129, 130–31

  electrical, 129

  experimental study of, 130–31

  Fisher’s runaway selection model of, 131–32

  gender indicated by, 130

  male sexual ornamentation and, 140

  natural selection and, 128–29

  olfactory, 129

  sexual maturity indicated by, 130

  truth in advertising theory of, 133–34

  Zahavi’s handicap principle of, 132–33

  Antelope, mating systems of, 7

  Anticontraceptive theory, of concealed ovulation, 70–71

  Ants, signals and, 129

  Apes: aging and, 113–14

  humans compared to, 8–10

  ovulatory signs and, 78

  penis of, 144

  promiscuous mating system of, 82, 83

  sexual distinctiveness and, 47–48. See also Bonobos; Chimpanzees; Gibbons; Gorillas; Orangutans

  Archaeopteryx, 57

  Arctic Indian men, hunting by, 95

  Arctic seals, lactation and, 59

  Asian elephants, menopause and, 125

  Auditory signals, 129

  Axillary hair, sexual maturity in humans indicated by, 135, 142

  Baboons: ovulatory signals and, 64, 78, 82, 130

  sex confined to estrus and, 64

  Baleen whales, eggs of, 108

  Bandicoots, pregnancy and, 58

  Bar
bary macaques: public sex and, 3

  sex confined to estrus and, 64–65

  Bats, mating systems of, 7. See also Dyak fruit bats; Hammer-headed fruit bats

  Battle of the sexes. See under Parental care

  Behavioral signals, 3, 129

  Better-genes-through-cuckoldry theory, of female sexual receptivity, 70

  Big-bang reproduction (semelparity), 7, 106–7

  Bipotential gonad, 44, 45

  Birds: coparenting and, 29–34, 56

  evolutionary commitment of, 55–58

  internal fertilization and, 22, 55–56

  mating systems of, 7

  pair bonds formed by, 7–8

  parental care and, 7, 16, 17, 55–58, 69

  on Rennell Island, 122–23

  sex for fertilization and, 66–67

  sex-role-reversal polyandry and, 16, 26–29, 36, 57

  signals and, 129, 130–31

  Body fat. See Fat

  Body signals. See Signals

  Bonobos (pygmy chimpanzees): humans compared to, 8, 9

  menopause and, 125

  promiscuous mating system of, 8, 9, 69, 78–79

  sex for fun and, 3

  Bowerbirds, golden crest of, 132, 137

  Breast-feeding. See under Lactation

  Breasts: hormones and development of, 47–50

  as signal in human females, 135, 136, 138–39, 141

  Bride prices: confidence in paternity and, 37

  women’s desirability and, 141

  Brown, James, 133–34

  Brush turkeys, parental care and, 17

  Buttocks, as signal in human females, 138, 139

  Century plants, big-bang reproduction and, 107

  Chaperoning, confidence in paternity and, 38

  Chickens, large eggs of, 27

  Childbirth, risk of mother’s death and, 117–18

  Child care. See under Parental care

  Chimpanzees, 13

  humans compared to, 8, 9

  infanticide and, 73

  lack of paternal care and, 2–3

  menopause and, 125

  ovulatory signals and, 78, 80, 81, 82

  penis of, 144

  private sex (consortship) and, 3

  promiscuous mating system of, 9, 69, 78–79, 82, 83

  public sex and, 3

  pygmy, see Bonobos

  Chromosomes, 43–44

  Circumcision, female. See Clitoridectomy

  Clitoridectomy, confidence in paternity and, 38

  Clitoris, 45

  Comparative method, concealed ovulation studied by, 77–88

  Concealed ovulation, 5, 64, 67, 68–88

  anticontraceptive theory of, 70–71

  comparative method studying, 77–88

  daddy-at-home theory of, 71–73, 75–76, 79, 84, 86–87

  detecting ovulation and, 63–64

  evolution of, 80–88

  female receptivity and, 64–65

  harems and, 84, 85

  hormonal test kit and, 63–64

  many-fathers theory of, 71, 73–75, 76, 79, 84

  mating systems and, 79–80

  paternity confused by, 71, 73–75

  prostitution theory of, 70

  theories explaining, 70–88

  Confessions of Felix Krull, Confidence Man (Mann), 88

  Confidence of parenthood: concealed ovulation and, 74–75

  daddy-at-home theory of concealed ovulation and, 71–73, 75–76

  genetic testing and, 60–61, 76

  male lactation and, 43, 60–61

  many-fathers theory of concealed ovulation and, 71, 73–75, 76

  parental care and, 20, 24–25, 30, 37–38, 56

  Conflict of interests: between closely related people, 100–101

  in hunter-gatherer societies, 100

  Consortship, chimpanzees and, 3

  Coparenting: birds and, 29–34, 56

  daddy-at-home theory and, 72

  humans and, 29–30, 38

  male lactation and, 53–54

  sexual receptivity and, 68–70

  Couples, humans forming, 4, 5–6

  Cows, hormones and lactation and, 48

  virgin cows and, 49

  Daddy-at-home theory, of concealed ovulation, 71–73, 75–76, 79, 84, 86–87

  Darwin, Charles, 10

  Deer, antlers of, 133–34

  Dihydrotestosterone, 45

  male pseudohermaphrodites and, 47

  Dinosaurs, 57

  Divorce, 102

  human signals and, 135

  Dogs: mammary glands and, 48

  sex for fertilization and, 66

  signals and, 129. See also African hunting dogs

  Dolphins, sex for fun and, 3

  Dyak fruit bats, spontaneous male lactation and, 52, 54, 60

  Echidnas, internal fertilization and, 22

  Eggs: larger than sperm, 21

  menopause and depletion of, 107–9, 115

  Electrical signals, 129

  Electric fishes, signals and, 129

  Elephants: eggs of, 108

  menopause and, 125

  pregnancy and, 58

  Enzymes, male/female organ development and, 46

  Epididymis, 45

  Estrogen, lactation and, 49–50

  Estrus, mammals confining sex to, 64–65. See also Fertilization, mammals having sex for

  Evolution: of concealed ovulation, 80–88

  human sexuality and, 10–13. See also Natural selection

  Evolutionary commitment, 54–55

  birds’ reproductive strategy and, 55–58

  mammalian reproductive strategy and, 58–60, 62

  External fertilization, 21

  alternative opportunities foreclosed by child care and, 23

  in fish, 13

  humans and, 61

  obligate parental investment and, 21

  parental care and, 25–26

  Extramarital sex, 5

  biological significance of, 98–99

  confidence of parenthood and, 76

  hunting and, 98–100

  recreational sex and, 69–70

  as risky, 68

  sex appeal and, 141

  sex differences in attitudes toward, 38–39

  Extra-pair copulations, of Pied Flycatchers, 33–34

  Facial beauty, as human signal, 137–38

  Fallopian tubes, 45

  Fat, as signal in human females, 135, 138–39, 141

  Female menopause. See Menopause

  Females (human): breasts and, 135, 136, 138–39, 141

  buttocks and, 138, 139

  extramarital sex and, 38–39

  facial beauty and, 137–38, 141

  fat and, 135, 138–39, 141

  fertility decline in, 103, see also Menopause

  hormones and breast development and, 49–50

  lactation by, 23, 24, 35–36, 49–50

  parental care and, 4, 21–24, 25, 29–30, 35–38, 102

  plant foods gathered by, 91, 93–94, 95, 100

  sexual maturity of, 142

  sexual ornamentation and, 138–41. See also Concealed ovulation; Lactation; Menopause; Sexual receptivity (female)

  Females (mammalian): duration of fertility of, 105–6, 115

  lactation and, 23, 24, 49, 50

  menopause and, 105–7, 124–25

  parental care and, 7, 15–16, 21–34, 55–57

  sex-role-reversal polyandry and, 26–29

  signals and, 130, 131–34

  Fertilization, mammals having sex for, 3, 64–65, 66–67. See also External fertilization; Internal fertilization

  Fish: external fertilization and, 13, 21

  male role and, 7

  mating systems of, 7

  parental care and, 7, 16, 25–26

  vivipary and, 22

  Fisher, Ronald, Sir, 131–32, 144

  Fisher’s runaway selection model of signals, 131–32, 144

  Flycatchers. See Pi
ed Flycatchers

  Ford, Henry, 114–15

  Foreclosed opportunity, parental care and, 20, 23–24, 35–37, 38, 56

  Frogs: mating systems of, 7

  parental care and, 7, 25–26

  Fun, sex for. See Recreational sex

  Genes, 43, 47

  males passing to offspring, 24. See also Chromosomes; Natural selection

  Genetic testing, confidence of parenthood and, 60–61

  Gibbons: couples and, 4

  as monogamous, 78, 82

  parental care and, 3, 54, 69

  paternal care and, 3

  sex confined to estrus and, 65

  sexual distinctiveness and, 48

  Glans penis, 45

  Glass frogs, parental care and, 26

  Goats (female), lactation in virgin: hormones and, 49

  “milking” and, 50

  Goats (male), lactation and: hormones and, 49

  spontaneous lactation and, 42, 51–52

  Gorillas: harems and, 5, 78, 82

  head shape indicating sex and, 130

  humans compared to, 9

  infanticide and, 73, 74

  ovulatory signals and, 78, 80, 81

  paternal care and, 3

  penis of, 143, 144

  sex and parental care and, 69

  sexual distinctiveness and, 48

  sexuality of, 9

  sexual maturity indicated and, 130

  Grandmothers, extended role of, 119–20

  Great apes. See Apes

  Great Tits, breast stripe as signal and, 130–31

  Growth hormone. See Somatotropin

  Guinea pigs, lactation and, 59

  hormones and male lactation and, 49

  Hadza, foraging by women of different ages and, 119–20

  Hammer-headed fruit bats, lek mating system of, 7, 8

  Hamsters, duration of fertility of, 115

  Handicap principle. See Zahavi’s handicap principle of signals

  Harems: concealed ovulation and, 84, 85

  humans and, 4, 5–6, 37

  mammals and, 5

  primates and, 78, 79, 80, 82, 83

  Hawkes, Kristen, 93–98, 119–20

  Hazda Indians, hunting by men of, 93, 95–96

  Head shape, gender indicated by, 130

  Herring Gulls, signals and, 130

  Hill, Kim, 93

  Hoofed mammals, lack of paternal care and, 2

  Hormones: lactation and, 48–50

  male lactation and, 47–50

  sex differences and, 47–49

  Howler monkeys, concealed ovulation and, 82

  Hrdy, Sarah, 71, 73–75

 

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