Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science

Living Edition
| Editors: Todd K. Shackelford, Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

Benefit Provisioning

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_142-1
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Synonyms

Benefit-provisioning behaviors; Benefit provisioning domain; Benefit provisioning; Benefit-provisioning behaviors; Benefit-provisioning mate retention behaviors

Definition

Benefit-provisioning behaviors are mate retention behaviors that are intended to increase the incentives of staying mated to the current partner and, in turn, deter defection from the relationship. These behaviors can include things such as buying gifts for the partner, altering one’s appearance, and different sexual behaviors.

Introduction

After attracting a mate, humans are faced with the adaptive problem of retaining the mate. Successful mate retention prevents other problems associated with reproduction such as cuckoldry and defection of resources (Buss 1988). Therefore, it is likely that a series of adaptations would have evolved to aide individuals in their mate retention. Indeed, an entire taxonomy of these mate retention behaviors have been identified, and these mate retention behaviors range in...

Keywords

Public Signal Mate Retention Positive Inducement Negative Inducement Reproductive Resource 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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References

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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Western Carolina UniversityCullowheeUSA