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Evolutionary Perspectives on Male Androphilia in Humans

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Evolutionary Perspectives on Human Sexual Psychology and Behavior

Part of the book series: Evolutionary Psychology ((EVOLPSYCH))

Abstract

Androphilia refers to predominant sexual attraction and arousal to adult males, whereas gynephilia refers to predominant sexual attraction and arousal to adult females. The manner in which male androphilia is expressed varies cross-culturally. Sex-gender congruent male androphiles occupy the gender role typical of their sex, behave in a relatively masculine manner, and identify as “men.” In contrast, transgendered male androphiles often behave in a highly effeminate manner and identify as neither “men” nor “women.” Both forms are characterized by many of the same biodemographic and developmental correlates, which indicates that they share a common etiological basis despite being superficially different in appearance. Evidence suggests that the ancestral form of male androphilia was likely the transgendered form. Male androphilia represents an evolutionary paradox because (1) it appears to have a genetic component, yet (2) it compromises reproduction, and (3) archaeological evidence indicates that male-male sexual behavior has persisted for millennia. Two hypotheses that purport to explain the evolution of male androphilia have garnered support: the Kin Selection Hypothesis and the Sexually Antagonistic Gene Hypothesis. Research has repeatedly furnished support for the Kin Selection Hypothesis in Samoa where transgendered male androphiles (fa’afafine) exhibit elevated avuncular tendencies compared to women and gynephilic men. Tests of the Sexually Antagonistic Gene Hypothesis have been conducted in diverse populations of transgendered and sex-gender congruent male androphiles. Overall, these tests indicate that the female kin of male androphiles produce more offspring than those of male gynephiles.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The fraternal birth order effect refers to the well-established finding that the number of older biological brothers increases the odds of androphilia in later born males (Blanchard, 2004; Bogaert & Skorska, 2011).

  2. 2.

    The Hidatsa are a native North American people that lived in palisaded villages along the Missouri River in North Dakota from 1400 to 1800 AD.

  3. 3.

    In bilateral descent systems, ego’s mother’s and father’s lineages are equally important for emotional, social, spiritual, and political support, as well as for transfer of property or wealth.

  4. 4.

    In double descent systems of descent, individuals receive some rights and obligations from the father’s side of the family and others from the mother’s side.

  5. 5.

    Some sources treat ambilineal and bilateral descent systems as synonymous, but ambilineal descent systems are defined as existing when individuals have the option of choosing one of their lineages for membership.

  6. 6.

    This hypothesis is sometimes referred to as the “Overdominance Hypothesis” for male androphilia.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Resitara Apa, Nancy Bartlett, Gardenia Elisaia, Eiji Enomoto, Vaosa Epa, Vaasatia Poloma Komiti, Anita Latai, Sarah Faletoese Su’a, Vester Fido Collins, Liulauulu Faaleolea Ah Fook, Tyrone Laurenson, Gaualofa Matalavea, Chiji Masafumi, Avau Memea, Kiyoshige Murata, Nella Tavita-Levy, Palanitina Toelupe, Trisha Tuiloma, Avalogo Togi A. Tunupopo, Ayumi and Yoshiko Sawada, Hideki Shiraume, Takashi Yanai, Ryoko Yoshikawa, the Kuka family of Savai’i, the Enomoto family of Arashiyama, the Sakami family of Tokyo, the Samoan AIDS Foundation, the National University of Samoa, the Samoan Ministry of Health, and the Government of Samoa. We are grateful to all of the individuals who agreed to participate in our studies. We extend special thanks to Alatina Ioelu. Our research on the evolution of male androphilia has taken place over the past decade and has been supported by the University of Lethbridge and a variety of funding agencies. PLV received funding from an Alberta Provincial Government S.T.E.P. Award, an Alberta Innovates Health Solutions (AIHS) Sustainability Fund Grant, a Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Catalyst Grant in Methods and Measures for Gender, Sex, and Health, three Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada Grants, and a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Grant. DPV received funding from an NSERC of Canada Graduate Scholarship-D3, the Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society Grants-in-Aid of Research, a Ralph Steinhauer Award of Distinction, an American Psychological Foundation Henry David Travel Grant, and a Sexual Medicine Society of North America Postdoctoral Fellowship Stipend.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Lethbridge, 4401 University Drive, Lethbridge, AB, Canada, T1K 3M4

    Paul L. Vasey

  2. Gender Identity Service, Child, Youth and Family Service, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Beamish Family Wing, Intergenerational Wellness Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Doug P. VanderLaan

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  1. Paul L. Vasey
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Correspondence to Paul L. Vasey .

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  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

  2. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

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Vasey, P.L., VanderLaan, D.P. (2014). Evolutionary Perspectives on Male Androphilia in Humans. In: Weekes-Shackelford, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Evolutionary Perspectives on Human Sexual Psychology and Behavior. Evolutionary Psychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0314-6_19

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