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Behavioural ecology of sexual autonomy and the case of protection against risky courtship

Verpooten, Jan (2024) Behavioural ecology of sexual autonomy and the case of protection against risky courtship. [Preprint]

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Abstract

Evolutionary changes and interspecific diversity in sexual coercion and autonomy are often linked to indirect selection on mate preferences. Yet, this approach overlooks the small fraction of indirect selection in total selection on mate choice and assumes unnecessarily specific conditions in the recent ‘autonomy-enhancing’ risk-reduction model. This paper proposes a more parsimonious approach based on direct selection and basic signalling theory, incorporating ecological variables to better explain sexual biodiversity. Particularly, the spatial dimensionality of mating environments is emphasized for its role in enhancing sexual freedom through both diminishing monopolization and elevating escape potential from sexual coercion. Empirical evidence, ranging from waterfowl to humans, seems to better align with this ecologically constrained signalling perspective. Furthermore, it suggests that choosers keep coercion risk at ecological baseline by leveraging their escape potential. This repositions intriguing protective elements like bowerbirds' constructions as courtship features that have been bargained to respect sexual autonomy rather than enhancing it through indirect selection. It implies that courtship induced risks, such as reduced mobility, may in principle increase substantially precisely because they are offset by protective measures. Future research could reveal the prevalence of such risk-balancing strategies, advancing our understanding of mating dynamics. This work suggests new theoretical and empirical research avenues within the ecology of mating dynamics.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Verpooten, Janjan.verpooten@kuleuven.be0000-0001-5547-7330
Additional Information: Final draft August 2024 - forthcoming in Biology & Philosophy
Keywords: sexual coercion, sexual autonomy, mate choice, courtship, escape potential, mating strategies
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Anthropology
Specific Sciences > Archaeology
Specific Sciences > Biology
Specific Sciences > Biology > Ecology/Conservation
Specific Sciences > Psychology > Evolutionary Psychology
Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory
Specific Sciences > Biology > Function/Teleology
Specific Sciences > Psychology > Comparative Psychology and Ethology
General Issues > Game Theory
General Issues > Models and Idealization
Depositing User: jan maria jozef verpooten
Date Deposited: 29 Aug 2024 04:04
Last Modified: 29 Aug 2024 04:04
Item ID: 23835
DOI or Unique Handle: 10.1007/s10539-024-09963-z
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Anthropology
Specific Sciences > Archaeology
Specific Sciences > Biology
Specific Sciences > Biology > Ecology/Conservation
Specific Sciences > Psychology > Evolutionary Psychology
Specific Sciences > Biology > Evolutionary Theory
Specific Sciences > Biology > Function/Teleology
Specific Sciences > Psychology > Comparative Psychology and Ethology
General Issues > Game Theory
General Issues > Models and Idealization
Date: 2024
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/23835

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