Synonyms
Definition
Anatomical adaptations for fighting include muscularity, body size, the structure of the fist, the protective skeletal buttressing of the face and skull, and the distribution of pain receptors. These features evolved as adaptations for success during males’ long history of fighting with other males over status, access to resources, and reproductive opportunities. Because males fight more often than females the causes of selection on these traits would have been stronger on males. Accordingly, males exhibit greater expression of these physical traits than do females.
Introduction
We are a very violent species and although recorded human history shows high rates of violence, evidence from contemporary foragers indicates that we were even more violent as hunter gatherers. Violence, particularly between males, is part of our primate heritage.
As in other primates, humans exhibit important sex differences in the propensity for violence...
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References
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Lombardo, M.P., Deaner, R.O. (2016). Anatomical Adaptations for Fighting. In: Weekes-Shackelford, V., Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1422-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1422-1
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