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Wartime forced sex as a male mating strategy

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Abstract

The aim of this study was an analytical justification of the emergence and presence of the phenomenon of war among hominins, taking into account males’ genetic benefits gained through war in the natural environment. Based on chimpanzee behavior, the analytical model of the primary warrior balance was explored, comparing the risk of a war expedition with the genetic profits from war rape—“life and death balance”. On the profits side, genetic gains possible to obtain in terms of permanent attractiveness of females (warrior status and abductions of females) were also included. Kin cooperation, parochial altruism, and “partisan strategy” have been defined as psychological mechanisms that enable effective group violence. Male genetic benefit from a war rape could exceed the risk of a warrior’s death in the chimpanzee–human LCA species; transition from the herd to the patriarchal tribal social system could increase warrior’s genetic gains from war. At the root of war lie sexual limitations of cooperating males, induced by female sexual preferences and lack of the permanent female sexual drive. War rape allows reproductive success for dominated and thus sexually restricted males. Tendencies for group aggression to gain access to out-group females (the war gene) are common among sexually restricted men. Resource-rich areas favor increase in human population density, this affects group territoriality and promotes intergroup conflicts, and thus patriarchy. Roots of conventional patriarchal marriage are strongly combined with war—“the right to land entails the right to a female”.

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    Christopher Mogielnicki

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Mogielnicki, C. Wartime forced sex as a male mating strategy. Theory Biosci. 142, 67–85 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12064-023-00386-0

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