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Sexual aggression in the great apes.

R D Nadler1

  • 1Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322.

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
|January 1, 1988
PubMed
Summary
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Great ape mating behavior differs in the wild versus labs. Lab settings increase male sexual aggression due to limited female escape options, suggesting implications for understanding human sexual aggression.

Area of Science:

  • Primatology
  • Ethology
  • Evolutionary Psychology

Background:

  • Species-typical copulation frequencies vary across chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas, with a midcycle peak linked to estrus.
  • Natural mating durations differ: chimpanzees (10-14 days), orangutans (5-6 days), and gorillas (2-3 days).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate differences in copulation frequencies between natural habitats and laboratory pair-tests in great apes.
  • To determine the factors contributing to increased copulation rates in laboratory settings.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of copulation frequencies in natural habitats versus traditional laboratory pair-tests.
  • Utilizing restricted-access tests where females control sexual access to assess female agency.

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Main Results:

  • Great apes exhibit higher copulation frequencies in laboratory pair-tests compared to species-typical patterns.
  • Increased copulation in labs is linked to heightened male sexual initiative, dominance, and female inability to avoid mating.
  • Restricted-access tests confirm that female control over sexual access reduces copulation rates.

Conclusions:

  • Laboratory conditions, particularly limited space and lack of social constraints, facilitate male sexual aggression in great apes.
  • Female vulnerability in confined settings appears to be a key factor in increased mating aggression.
  • Findings offer insights into the biological underpinnings of sexual aggression, with potential relevance to human behavior.