Brad R. Huber’s Summary of

Menelaos Apostolou’s"Sexual selection under parental choice: The role of parents in the evolution of

human mating." Evolution and Human Behavior 28.6

(2007): 403-409.

1. Evolutionary psychology combines evolutionary theory with

evidence from preindustrial societies

a.to reconstruct the ancestral environment, and

b.to make valid claims about the evolution of human

behavior

2. Patterns of behavior and social organization that are typical

among hunter–gatherers are also assumed to be typical of

ancestral human societies.

1. Research on Human Mating is commonly based on the assumption of extensive female choice.

2. However, the ethnographic record indicates that female mate choice is far from free.

3. Consequently, present models that do not incorporate the influence of close kin in mating decisions are Problematic.

1. The theory of parental investment (Bateman, 1948, Trivers, 1972) states that the female, by investing more in her offspring, becomes a scarce reproductive resource to which males are seeking access. 2. Parents of the female find themselves in possession of a

valuable resource.3. Parents can select in-laws with characteristics that

maximize their own inclusive fitness. Sons-in-law:a) Willing to provide resources and b) Willing to provide long-term support

4. Parents can use these resources to increase the probability of survival and reproduction for themselves and their kin, including their daughter.

6. Parents have an incentive to control their sons' mating decisions as well. 7. However, due to the asymmetry in parental investment, 8. The model predicts:• less parental control aimed sons mating

choices• More parental control aimed at

daughters’ mating choices, because daughters are the scarcer commodity.

Parental control over mating is possible in settings where • offspring are dependent on their parents for food and

protection, • parents are able to use their physical strength to

impose their will. • Parents invest in offspring for a long time• Parents control the heritability of resources, and • Parents have extensive networks of kinship and

reciprocity.Fathers may have more control of offspring mate choice than Mothers:• greater physical strength, • exclusive use of weaponry, and • control of political institutions.

MethodsSample 1: • 190 modern hunting and gathering societies.• The majority of the societies in the sample are

exclusively hunters and gatherers.• 9 African, 16 East Eurasian, 9 Insular Pacific, 85 North

American, 47 Arctic and Sub-Arctic, and 14 South American societies.

Sample 2:• nine African societies, and • nine randomly selected societies from each of the

remaining geographical areas

Results:

Figure 1 shows:

• In the three most common categories, parents have a major role in regulating mate choice.

The following figure shows:

This is a pattern in all 6 Geographic Regions:

Who does the choosing of spouses?

In general, Fathers, Brothers and Uncles. Mothers less so.

“Control is easier when daughters and wives are young”

Female age at first marriage is • at onset of puberty in 86.8% of societies• marriage in childhood in 7.9%• marriage in adulthood in 5.3%

Females are usually married to men older than they are in 88.7% of societiesFemales married to a man of the same age in 11.3% .Infant or child betrothal is found in 33.1%

Who takes the initiative in arranging marriages?

• The groom's parents take the initiative in arranging the marriage with the bride's parents in 86.7% of societies

• both sets of parents can take the initiative in 11.7%

• The bride's parents take the initiative in 1.7%

Ideal Spouses from a Parent’s Perspective

Bride’s Parents want a Son-in-Law who is • hardworking and a good provider in 45.5%• a good hunter in 43.2%, and • from a good family in 11.4%

Groom’s Parents want a Daughter-in-Law who is:• hardworking 75.9% and • from a good family in 24.1%

Physical Attractiveness was not mentioned.

Female Choice may be Exercised via Divorce• Divorce is found in 65.8% of societies• And can be obtained by both sexes, in general

Reasons for Divorce

• Incompatibility in 21.9% • Female barrenness in 28.6% • Laziness in 19%• Adultery in 30%

Does evolutionary theory predict parent-offspring conflict over mate selection?