a2 aqa comparative infidelity

7/29/2019 A2 AQA Comparative Infidelity

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Infidelity

Many human societies are based around

notionally monogamous relationships

However, it is relatively common for both

men and women to engage in sexual

activity with additional partners

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Infidelity

Prevalence of sexual infidelity difficult to

measure for obvious reasons. Some

estimates from the US:

Sexual infidelity occurs in 20-25% of

marriages (Wiederman, 1997)

65-75% of university students have had some

degree of extradyadic involvement whilst in aserious relationship (Shackelford et al, 2000)


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Infidelity

Infidelity also occurs in various animal

species, including those that apparently

form monogamous pair bonds

It occurs in both males and females

E.G. in some supposedly monogamous bird

species 10-40% of chicks were fathered by a

male other than the females pair-bondedmate


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Infidelity & Evolution

Infidelity might have evolutionary

advantages & be an adaptive strategy

If so, male & female infidelity are likely to

have different motives & possible

consequences


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Male Infidelity

Possibly explainable in terms of quantity

based indiscriminate mating strategy

More partners = more offspring

Men more likely to report having affairs that

were just about sex (Glass & Wright, 1985)

Male infidelity not necessarily linked to

dissatisfaction with current relationship (Hall &Fincham, 2005)


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Female Infidelity

Possibly explainable in terms of quality

based strategy for optimising survival

chances of offspring

Best physical specimens may not be best

resource providers (best of both worlds)

Infidelity more strongly linked to

dissatisfaction with currently relationship thanin male infidelity (Glass & Wright, 1985)


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Infidelity

That infidelity serves different purposes in

M & F is supported by other evidence e.g.

M less likely to forgive, more likely to break up

with sexually, rather than emotionally

unfaithful partner (Shackelford et al, 2002)

F seem more sensitive than M to emotional

infidelity (Hall & Fincham, 2004)


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Infidelity & Parental Investment

Infidelity may have an influence on

investment in offspring & other parental

behaviour

It makes poor evolutionary sense to invest in

offspring that dont carry your genes

Females can be certain that the young are

theirs, males less so Mummys babies, daddys maybes


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Misattributed paternity prevalence is

difficult to measure. Sample estimates:

Anderson (2005) meta-analysis, studies of

general population: 3.9%

Bellis et al (2005) meta-analysis, studies of

general population: 3.7%

CSA (2005) cases of disputed paternity only:16%


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Because females can always be certain

that the offspring carry their genes they

are likely to invest more resources

This tendency is multiplied across

generations, so mothers mother (guaranteed

relationship) invests more than fathers father

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a2 aqa comparative infidelity

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