User:Psunej/sandbox

Plan for Intro Section:
The definition of extra pair copulation. Discuss monogamous relationships (briefly) and how mating outside of this pairing is known as extra pair copulation. Find proper ref for this.

It is commonly linked with promiscuity.

Differences between sexual and social monogamy.

Possible theories for the reasons behind extra pair copulation.

There is a differentiation between social monogamy and sexual monogamy, and extra-pair copulation is related to sexual monogamy. As very few species have been found to be exclusively sexually monogomous, extra-pair copulation is common in animals including humans. There a a rang of theories to explain possible evolutionary reasons for extra-pair copulation

Many socially monogamous species engage in extra-pair copulations, making them sexually non-monogamous. For example, while over 90% of birds are socially monogamous, "on average, 30% or more of the baby birds in any nest [are] sired by someone other than the resident male."

Extra-pair copulation in men has been explained as being partly due to parental investment. It is argued that copulation poses more of a risk of future investment for women, as they have the potential of becoming pregnant, requiring a large parental investment of nine months and then further rearing of the offspring. For men on the other hand, they can copulate and leave the woman, causing them to have a smaller risk parental investment in any possible offspring

Extra-pair copulation is a promiscuous mating behaviour in monogamous species. Monogamy occurs when one male mates exclusively with one female and form a long term bond and combine effort to raise offspring together (In humans this could also refer to single sex couples), when there is mating outside of this pairing it is known as an extra-pair copulation. Across the animal kingdom, extra-pair copulation is common in monogamous species, and only very few pair bond species are thought to be exclusively sexually monogamous (cite). In males, a number of theories are proposed to explain extra-pair copulation's. One being that males are maximizing their reproductive success by copulating with as many women as possible outside of a pair bond relationship because their parental investment is lower, meaning they can copulate and leave the female with minimum risk. Females on the other hand do have to invest a lot more in their offspring, therefore extra-pair copulation's have a greater cost because they put the resources that they're mate can offer at risk by copulating outside the relationship. Despite this, females do seek out extra pair copulation's and because of the risk, there is more confusion about the evolutionary benefits for females. It has been theorized to be due to seeking better genetic material for their offspring, seeking additional resources from neighbors or alternatively as a result of indirect selection

Extra-pair copulation in women - draft
From an evolutionary perspective, females have to invest a lot more in their offspring than males due to prolonged pregnancy and child rearing, and a child has a better chance of survival and development with two parents involved in child-rearing(REF). Therefore extra-pair copulation's have a greater cost for women because they put the support and resources that their mate can offer at risk by copulating outside the relationship. There is also the increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (REF). Despite this, females do seek out extra pair copulation's, with some research finding that women's levels of infidelity are equal to that of men's (REF), although this evidence is mixed. Due to the increased risk, there is more confusion about the evolutionary benefits of extra-pair copulation for females.

The most common theory is that women mate outside of the monogamous relationship to acquire better genetic material for their offspring. A female in a relationship with a male with 'poorer genetic quality' may try to enhance the fitness of her children and therefore the continuation of her own genes by engaging in extra-pair copulation with better quality males (REF). A second theory is that a woman will engage in extra-pair copulation to seek additional resources for herself or her offspring(REF). This is based on observations from the animal world in which females may copulate outside of their pair-bong relationship with neighbors to gain extra, protection, food or nesting materials(REF). Finally, evolutionary psychologists have theorized that extra-pair copulation is a result of indirect selection on males. The alleles in males that promote extra-pair copulation as a evolutionary strategy to increase reproductive success is shared between sexes leading to this behaviour being expressed in females(REF). Both males and females have been found to engage in more sexual behaviour outside of the monogamous relationship when experiencing secual dissatisfaction in the relationship(REF), although how this links to evolutionary theory is unclear.

alternatively as a result of indirect selection

Gender is the most consistent previously established predictor of infidelity.

As the above statistics indicate, more men than women have affairs. Among

those men and women who do have affairs, men typically have affairs with

a greater number of partners than do women (Lawson, 1988).

No significant sex  differences  were  found. Further-

more,

t

tests revealed that cross-data source estimates of extramarital activi-

ties were not significantly different.

Petersen (1983) found that women’s sexual dis-

satisfaction with the marriage was linked with infidelity likelihood, but men’s

infidelity likelihood was unrelated to the quality of marital sex. Glass and

Wright (1977, 1992), however,  provide some evidence  that dissatisfaction

with marital  sex  is  associated  with  an  increased  likelihood  that  men  will

commit sexual infidelity