Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Suffodit inguina.

Laura Betzig1

  • 1Adaptationist Program, Ann Arbor, MI 48109.

Politics and the Life Sciences : the Journal of the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences
|December 17, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Targeting of gonads, particularly in primates, is a recurring theme in both animal behavior and historical accounts. This includes instances from Roman emperors to non-human primates, highlighting a pattern of genital-focused aggression.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

A Note on Religion.

Evolutionary psychology : an international journal of evolutionary approaches to psychology and behavior·2021
Same author

Eusociality in history.

Human nature (Hawthorne, N.Y.)·2014
Same author

Eusociality: from the first foragers to the first states. Introduction to the special issue.

Human nature (Hawthorne, N.Y.)·2013
Same author

But what is government itself but the greatest of all reflections on human nature?

Politics and the life sciences : the journal of the Association for Politics and the Life Sciences·2010
Same author

Who's pro-choice and why.

Ethology and sociobiology·1992

Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Primatology
  • Ancient History

Background:

  • Aggression and sexual competition are significant factors in primate social dynamics.
  • Historical records suggest a pattern of violence targeting reproductive organs in humans.

Observation:

  • Canine attacks on the scrota of monkeys and apes are documented in the context of sexual competition.
  • Historical accounts, though often anecdotal, suggest that several Roman emperors faced violence that put their genitals at risk or resulted in their removal.

Findings:

  • The targeting of gonads appears to be a consistent, albeit infrequent, phenomenon across different primate species and historical periods.
  • This behavior may be linked to sexual rivalry and dominance struggles.

Implications:

  • Understanding these patterns can offer insights into the evolutionary roots of aggression and sexual conflict.
  • Further research into historical accounts and comparative primatology can illuminate the socio-biological significance of genital-targeted violence.
Keywords:
Pan troglodytesSexual selectioneusocialityhuman evolutionsterile castes

Related Experiment Videos