A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Reproductive inequality in humans and other mammals
Authors: Ross Cody T., Hooper Paul L., Smith Jennifer E., Jaeggi Adrian V., Smith Eric Alden, Gavrilets Sergey, Zohora Fatema tuz, Ziker John, Xygalatas Dimitris, Wroblewski Emily E., Wood Brian, Winterhalder Bruce, Willführ Kai P., Willard Aiyana K., Walker Kara, von Rueden Christopher, Voland Eckart, Valeggia Claudia, Vaitla Bapu, Urlacher Samuel, Towner Mary, Sum Chun-Yi, Sugiyama Lawrence S., Strier Karen B., Starkweather Kathrine, Major-Smith Daniel, Shenk Mary, Sear Rebecca, Seabright Edmond, Schacht Ryan, Scelza Brooke, Scaggs Shane, Salerno Jonathan, Revilla-Minaya Caissa, Redhead Daniel, Pusey Anne, Purzycki Benjamin Grant, Power Eleanor A., Pisor Anne, Pettay Jenni, Perry Susan, Page Abigail E., Pacheco-Cobos Luis, Oths Kathryn, Oh Seung-Yun, Nolin David, Nettle Daniel, Moya Cristina, Migliano Andrea Bamberg, Mertens Karl J., McNamara Rita A., McElreath Richard, Mattison Siobhan, Massengill Eric, Marlowe Frank, Madimenos Felicia, Macfarlan Shane, Lummaa Virpi, Lizarralde Roberto, Liu Ruizhe, Liebert Melissa A., Lew-Levy Sheina, Leslie Paul, Lanning Joseph, Kramer Karen, Koster Jeremy, Kaplan Hillard S., Jamsranjav Bayarsaikhan, Hurtado A. Magdalena, Hill Kim, Hewlett Barry, Helle Samuli, Headland Thomas, Headland Janet, Gurven Michael, Grimalda Gianluca, Greaves Russell, Golden Christopher D., Godoy Irene, Gibson Mhairi, El Mouden Claire, Dyble Mark, Draper Patricia, Downey Sean, DeMarco Angelina L., Davis Helen Elizabeth, Crabtree Stefani, Cortez Carmen, Colleran Heidi, Cohen Emma, Clark Gregory, Clark Julia, Caudell Mark A., Carminito Chelsea E., Bunce John, Boyette Adam, Bowles Samuel, Blumenfield Tami, Beheim Bret, Beckerman Stephen, Atkinson Quentin, Apicella Coren, Alam Nurul, Mulder Monique Borgerhoff
Publisher: Natl Acad Sciences
Publication year: 2023
Journal: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Journal name in source: PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Journal acronym: P NATL ACAD SCI USA
Article number: 2220124120
Volume: 120
Issue: 22
Number of pages: 12
ISSN: 0027-8424
eISSN: 1091-6490
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2220124120
Web address : https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2220124120
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/180582227
To address claims of human exceptionalism, we determine where humans fit within the greater mammalian distribution of reproductive inequality. We show that humans exhibit lower reproductive skew (i.e., inequality in the number of surviving offspring) among males and smaller sex differences in reproductive skew than most other mammals, while nevertheless falling within the mammalian range. Additionally, female reproductive skew is higher in polygynous human populations than in polygynous nonhumans mammals on average. This patterning of skew can be attributed in part to the prevalence of monogamy in humans compared to the predominance of polygyny in nonhuman mammals, to the limited degree of polygyny in the human societies that practice it, and to the importance of unequally held rival resources to women's fitness. The muted reproductive inequality observed in humans appears to be linked to several unusual characteristics of our species-including high levels of cooperation among males, high dependence on unequally held rival resources, complementarities between maternal and paternal investment, as well as social and legal institutions that enforce monogamous norms.
Downloadable publication This is an electronic reprint of the original article. |  |
