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A Test of the Kin Selection Hypothesis for Female Gynephilia in Thailand

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Abstract

Female gynephilia (i.e., sexual attraction to adult females) is considered an evolutionary paradox because it reduces direct reproduction, yet it is influenced by genetic factors and has persisted over time and across different cultures. The Kin Selection Hypothesis proposes that same-sex attracted individuals offset their lowered direct reproduction by engaging in kin-directed altruism that increases the reproduction of close genetic relatives, thereby enhancing inclusive fitness. Previous research on male same-sex attraction found evidence to support this hypothesis in some cultures. The present study employed a Thai sample to compare altruistic tendencies towards kin and non-kin children in heterosexual women (n = 285), lesbian women (n = 59), toms (i.e., masculine gynephilic females who take on a nonbinary gender identity; n = 181), and dees (i.e., feminine gynephilic females who are attracted to toms; n = 154). The Kin Selection Hypothesis of same-sex attraction predicts that gynephilic groups would show increased kin-directed altruism compared with heterosexual women, but we did not find evidence supporting this prediction. Instead, the tendency to invest more towards kin than non-kin children was more exaggerated in heterosexual women than lesbian women. Also, heterosexual women showed greater dissociation between kin and non-kin altruistic tendencies compared with toms and dees, which may suggest the former’s cognition is better attuned for kin-directed altruism. Thus, the present findings were contrary to the Kin Selection Hypothesis for female gynephilia. Alternative explanations regarding the maintenance of genetic factors predisposing individuals to female gynephilia are discussed and require further investigation.

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Data Availability

Data for the present study are available at https://doi.org/10.5683/SP3/HJPD2V.

Notes

  1. In Thai culture, the terms for siblings are often generalized to include extended relatives as well (e.g., cousins). As such, participants were explicitly instructed to complete the AMT Subscale in relation to siblings with whom they shared the same parent(s).

  2. We also conducted the main analyses while including age, income, and education as covariates, and found similar results to those reported below. These results are reported in the supplementary materials.

  3. When including age, income, and education as covariates, heterosexual women no longer exhibited significantly higher difference scores than lesbian women. Instead, heterosexual women exhibited significantly higher difference scores than toms. These results are reported in the supplementary materials.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Aunyawee Chaiwatpornpat without whom this research would not have been possible, and the Khankham family. Thank you also to Itsara Boonyarit, Kamonphorn Chaisabai, Suwat Chariyalertsak, Lindsay Coome, Louis Gooren, Oranitcha Kaewthip, Phobphat Khankham, Phuntira Kunta, Chananart Putti, Sayan Putti, Suwit Saekho, Pongpun Saokhieo, Preedeya Shisornjai, Rattanakorn Sitthisapphokhin, Malvina Skorska, Tanapong Sungkaew, Lindsey Thurston, Adhm Zahran, and the staff at Baan Ruk Rean and at the Runway Academy. FRGJ was supported by a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Office of the Vice Principal of Research at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

Funding

This research was funded by a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Discovery Grant awarded to DPV (Grant No. RGPIN-2016-06446).

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  1. Department of Psychology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada

    Daisy Z. Hu, Francisco R. Gómez Jiménez & Doug P. VanderLaan

  2. Child and Youth Psychiatry, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Doug P. VanderLaan

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Correspondence to Doug P. VanderLaan.

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Hu, D.Z., Gómez Jiménez, F.R. & VanderLaan, D.P. A Test of the Kin Selection Hypothesis for Female Gynephilia in Thailand. Arch Sex Behav 52, 2153–2161 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-023-02619-1

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