Definition
Using sexual intercourse as a form of mate guarding, keeping partner from straying, and reducing risk of extra pair copulation
Introduction
Mate guarding refers to strategies that seek to preserve access to mate, hinder reproductive rivals in gaining access to partner, derogate rivals and competitors, and keep the partner from defecting the relationship (Buss 2002). While there are various forms of mate guarding tactics utilized within relationships (see, e.g., Arnocky et al. 2014; Buss and Shackelford 1997), here frequency of intercourse as a mate guarding strategy within couples is presented.
Frequency of in-pair copulation and mate guarding behaviors have been found to be positively associated (Shackelford et al. 2006), both self-reported by men in relationships and from women reporting on mate guarding behavior from partner. This suggests that men’s mate guarding behavior and in-pair copulation function...
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References
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Grøntvedt, T.V. (2020). Direct Guarding. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1708-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_1708-1
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