Male Sexual Jealousy to Deter Partner Infidelity

Synonyms

Cuckoldry; Paternity uncertainty

Definition

The jealousy males feel about female infidelity as an evolutionary reaction to internal female fertilization and paternity uncertainty.

Introduction

When infidelity occurs, males and females experience different biological and social costs. As such, they have developed different reactions toward infidelity. For males, one common reaction is sexual jealousy in order to deter partner infidelity.

The Costs of Infidelity

In species with internal female fertilization, partner infidelity has different costs for males and females. If a male’s mate has sexual contact with other males, the male has a lesser probability of impregnating his mate, and he has greater paternity uncertainty. If the rival male successfully impregnates his mate, the male will have lost the time, energy, nuptial gifts, the female’s parental effort, and the opportunity of mating with other females (Buss et al. 1992). Furthermore, in biparental species, where males...