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I’ve just noticed a great little article in New Scientist. It is a brief introduction into the work of Randy Thornhill (what an appropriate name!) at the University of New Mexico. He presented his theory about female oestrus at the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour meeting at Newcastle University.
He claims that women don’t become more aroused on heat, but change their mating preferences to “good genes“. Outside of their peak fertility they prefer men with traits indicating willingness to invest in child-rearing.
“Oestrus doesn’t indiscriminately increase sexual desire,” Dr Thornhill said. “It functions to get good genes.”
He and colleague Steve Gangestad say there are many examples of mammals that don’t mate with just any male when on heat. Mice, for example, try to mate with males that have different immune systems from their own, while female elephants go for the most dominant male.
Thornhill believes applying the concept of oestrus to women resolves the apparent paradox that they are concerned with getting good genes at peak fertility, and outside of this time – when he says they are in a phase of “extended sexuality” – they are concerned with getting material benefits.
Source: New Scientist (15 September 2007) 2621:18
You might also enjoy reading:-
- Chimps trade meat for mating
- Hips do lie: A sexy walk is intended to deceive men
- Fertile women have more seductive voices
- Why Do Women ‘Tease’?
- Lap dancers ‘on heat’ get big tips
Posted by Oliver in Psychology, Sociobiology