Research: Evolutionary Perspectives on Intergenerational Sexuality - Revision history

Thorn: /* Help in developing sexual ability */

2026-07-17T19:28:45Z

Help in developing sexual ability

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:28, 17 July 2026
Line 40:		Line 40:
	== Help in developing sexual ability ==		== Help in developing sexual ability ==

	~~For many~~ primates~~, sexual behavior requires~~ learning. ~~Therefore~~, in ~~some species, adult primates who have~~ sexual ~~contact~~ with juveniles ~~may~~ help them develop sexual skills. In addition, sex can trigger the onset of fertility. Such a function could have played a role in the human evolutionary past (Dienske, 1990<ref name=":0">Dienske, Herman (1990). The Concept of Function in the Behavioral Sciences with Specific Reference to Pedophilia and Pedosexual Behavior: A Biophilosophical Perspective. In: Jay R. Feierman (Ed.), [https://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=3CA15750CD7EC06C3052B55B5E16C76D Pedophilia: Biosocial Dimensions] (pp. 324–337). Springer, New York. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_13</ref>). In some species, this function has built in to that extent that without early sexual experience with an adult an individual grows up unable to conceive.<ref name=":7">Feierman, Jay R. (1990). A Biosocial Overview of Adult Human Sexual Behavior with Children and Adolescents. In: Jay R. Feierman (Ed.), [https://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=3CA15750CD7EC06C3052B55B5E16C76D Pedophilia: Biosocial Dimensions] (pp. 8–68). Springer, New York. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_2</ref>		Sex play between immature mammals is widespread, and among primates it is nearly universal. Sexual play functions as learning adequate mating skills. Sexual play mostly occurs among immature peers, but adults also often engage in sexual play with juveniles and help them develop sexual skills too.<ref>Bixler, R. H. (1992). "Do we/should we behave like animals?" In: W. T. O’Donohue & J. H. Geer (Eds.), The sexual abuse of children: Volume I—Theory and research (pp. 81–107). ''Routledge''. doi: 10.4324/9781315799698-7</ref> In addition, sex can trigger the onset of fertility. Such a function could have played a role in the human evolutionary past (Dienske, 1990<ref name=":0">Dienske, Herman (1990). The Concept of Function in the Behavioral Sciences with Specific Reference to Pedophilia and Pedosexual Behavior: A Biophilosophical Perspective. In: Jay R. Feierman (Ed.), [https://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=3CA15750CD7EC06C3052B55B5E16C76D Pedophilia: Biosocial Dimensions] (pp. 324–337). Springer, New York. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_13</ref>). In some species, this function has built in to that extent that without early sexual experience with an adult an individual grows up unable to conceive.<ref name=":7">Feierman, Jay R. (1990). A Biosocial Overview of Adult Human Sexual Behavior with Children and Adolescents. In: Jay R. Feierman (Ed.), [https://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=3CA15750CD7EC06C3052B55B5E16C76D Pedophilia: Biosocial Dimensions] (pp. 8–68). Springer, New York. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_2</ref>

	* '''Connie M. Anderson (1990). "Adolescent/Adult Copulatory Behavior in Nonhuman Primates". In: Jay R. Feierman (Ed.), [https://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=3CA15750CD7EC06C3052B55B5E16C76D Pedophilia: Biosocial Dimensions] (pp. 324–337). Springer, New York. doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_13'''		* '''Connie M. Anderson (1990). "Adolescent/Adult Copulatory Behavior in Nonhuman Primates". In: Jay R. Feierman (Ed.), [https://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=3CA15750CD7EC06C3052B55B5E16C76D Pedophilia: Biosocial Dimensions] (pp. 324–337). Springer, New York. doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_13'''
Line 53:		Line 53:
	*'''Bixler, R. H. (1992). "Do we/should we behave like animals?" In: W. T. O’Donohue & J. H. Geer (Eds.), The sexual abuse of children: Volume I—Theory and research (pp. 81–107). ''Routledge''. doi: 10.4324/9781315799698-7'''		*'''Bixler, R. H. (1992). "Do we/should we behave like animals?" In: W. T. O’Donohue & J. H. Geer (Eds.), The sexual abuse of children: Volume I—Theory and research (pp. 81–107). ''Routledge''. doi: 10.4324/9781315799698-7'''
	::"Any behavior that is indisputably essential to survival, adaptation, or reproductive success develops in many different forms in different species, and often even varies in the same species in different environments. ‘The evolution of sex and sexual behavior is certainly no exception (Margulis & Sagan, 1986). It is, therefore, not surprising to find that mature and immature conspecifics engage each other in myriad sexual practices (Crews & Moore, 1986). [...] It is certainly no accident that species in which the immature play are also the ones most involved in preadolescent sex. Of those warmblooded, slowly maturing organisms that play (mostly mammals), an undetermined, but probably very large, number engage in sexual ventures. On the other hand, young animals that metamorphize into adult form and those with an exceedingly brief immaturity are obviously poor candidates for sexual participation with adults."		::"Any behavior that is indisputably essential to survival, adaptation, or reproductive success develops in many different forms in different species, and often even varies in the same species in different environments. ‘The evolution of sex and sexual behavior is certainly no exception (Margulis & Sagan, 1986). It is, therefore, not surprising to find that mature and immature conspecifics engage each other in myriad sexual practices (Crews & Moore, 1986). [...] It is certainly no accident that species in which the immature play are also the ones most involved in preadolescent sex. Of those warmblooded, slowly maturing organisms that play (mostly mammals), an undetermined, but probably very large, number engage in sexual ventures. On the other hand, young animals that metamorphize into adult form and those with an exceedingly brief immaturity are obviously poor candidates for sexual participation with adults."
	::"The fascinating evolutionary component is the appearance of play; sexual encounters of mature with immature animals that do not play differ sharply from the sexual interactions of those that do. [...] Sexual activity of young mammals is a clear aid to their performing adequately and sex play is probably essential to the development of normal adult primate copulation (Harlow, 1962; Wallen, Goldfoot, & Goy, 1981). "		::"The fascinating evolutionary component is the appearance of play; sexual encounters of mature with immature animals that do not play differ sharply from the sexual interactions of those that do. [...] Sexual activity of young mammals is a clear aid to their performing adequately and sex play is probably essential to the development of normal adult primate copulation (Harlow, 1962; Wallen, Goldfoot, & Goy, 1981)."
			::"[T]he mere fact that sex play with adults is so widespread in polygamous (i.e., multimale—multifemale mating) species supports speculation that encounters with adults provide the winning edge. "

	== Advantage in sexual competition ==		== Advantage in sexual competition ==

Thorn: /* Sex for reconciliation and food sharing */

2026-07-16T20:50:42Z

Sex for reconciliation and food sharing

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:50, 16 July 2026
Line 90:		Line 90:
	* '''Mackey, Wade C. (1990). Adult·Male/Juvenile Association as a Species-Characteristic Human Trait: A Comparative Field Approach. In: Jay R. Feierman (Ed.), [https://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=3CA15750CD7EC06C3052B55B5E16C76D Pedophilia: Biosocial Dimensions] (pp. 299–323). Springer, New York. doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_12'''		* '''Mackey, Wade C. (1990). Adult·Male/Juvenile Association as a Species-Characteristic Human Trait: A Comparative Field Approach. In: Jay R. Feierman (Ed.), [https://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=3CA15750CD7EC06C3052B55B5E16C76D Pedophilia: Biosocial Dimensions] (pp. 299–323). Springer, New York. doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_12'''
	*: "As pointed out earlier, human adult males share food/provisions with their young, and this sharing by adult males is relatively rare across the zoological kingdom. It is reasonable that the sharing of a most valuable commodity -- food -- is much easier emotionally for the provisioner if the provisioner "likes" the recipient, and conversely, a recipient tends to like someone who feeds him or her, especially during the dependency of preadulthood. Accordingly, the behavioral enhancement of any neurohormonal mechanisms (subtended by the relevant genetic material) that resulted in greater affiliative feelings, toward juveniles, for example, would facilitate food sharing. The facilitation might be further sensitized by the stimulus of those young who are provisioned showing outward signs of affiliation towards the provisioner. Across generations, the increased provisioning of juveniles by adult males would marginally increase those juveniles' viability, thereby increasing those adult males' chances of having descendants. Thus, the alleles in adult males and juveniles that canalized reciprocal adult-male/juvenile affiliative behavior, in general, and the resultant specific adult-male/juvenile association, in particular, would gradually and systematically displace competing alleles that did not facilitate the development of affiliation between adult males and juveniles. In the 20th century, food sharing from human adult males to juveniles has been found to be a universal practice"		*: "As pointed out earlier, human adult males share food/provisions with their young, and this sharing by adult males is relatively rare across the zoological kingdom. It is reasonable that the sharing of a most valuable commodity -- food -- is much easier emotionally for the provisioner if the provisioner "likes" the recipient, and conversely, a recipient tends to like someone who feeds him or her, especially during the dependency of preadulthood. Accordingly, the behavioral enhancement of any neurohormonal mechanisms (subtended by the relevant genetic material) that resulted in greater affiliative feelings, toward juveniles, for example, would facilitate food sharing. The facilitation might be further sensitized by the stimulus of those young who are provisioned showing outward signs of affiliation towards the provisioner. Across generations, the increased provisioning of juveniles by adult males would marginally increase those juveniles' viability, thereby increasing those adult males' chances of having descendants. Thus, the alleles in adult males and juveniles that canalized reciprocal adult-male/juvenile affiliative behavior, in general, and the resultant specific adult-male/juvenile association, in particular, would gradually and systematically displace competing alleles that did not facilitate the development of affiliation between adult males and juveniles. In the 20th century, food sharing from human adult males to juveniles has been found to be a universal practice"

			*'''Woods, Vanessa; Hare, Brian (2011-04-01). "Bonobo but not chimpanzee infants use socio-sexual contact with peers". Primates. 52 (2): 111–116. doi:10.1007/s10329-010-0229-z.'''
			::"Even as infants, bonobos use socio-sexual behaviour, whereas the same behaviour is completely absent in chimpanzee infants. Findings suggest that sociosexual behaviour in infant bonobos serves functions during social feeding that is not closely tied to reproduction."

	== Nonconceptive sociosexual behavior as a result of self-domestication ==		== Nonconceptive sociosexual behavior as a result of self-domestication ==

Thorn: /* Nonconceptive sociosexual behavior as a result of self-domestication */

2026-07-16T20:37:17Z

Nonconceptive sociosexual behavior as a result of self-domestication

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:37, 16 July 2026
Line 92:		Line 92:

	== Nonconceptive sociosexual behavior as a result of self-domestication ==		== Nonconceptive sociosexual behavior as a result of self-domestication ==
	It has been suggested that nonconceptive sociosexual behaviour, which include homosexual and intergenerational sexual contacts, consistently accompanies both ~~evolutionary~~ and artificial selection against aggression ("domestication") being embedded in general pattern of juvenilization (like mammalian juvenile sex play).		It has been suggested that nonconceptive sociosexual behaviour, which include homosexual and intergenerational sexual contacts, consistently accompanies both natural and artificial selection against aggression ("domestication") being embedded in general pattern of juvenilization (like mammalian juvenile sex play).
	*'''Hare, B., Wobber, V., & Wrangham, R. (2012). [https://evolutionaryanthropology.duke.edu/sites/evolutionaryanthropology.duke.edu/files/site-images/hare-et-al-2012-self-domestication.original.pdf The self-domestication hypothesis: Evolution of bonobo psychology is due to selection against aggression.] ''Animal Behaviour'', 83(3), 573–585. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.12.007'''		*'''Hare, B., Wobber, V., & Wrangham, R. (2012). [https://evolutionaryanthropology.duke.edu/sites/evolutionaryanthropology.duke.edu/files/site-images/hare-et-al-2012-self-domestication.original.pdf The self-domestication hypothesis: Evolution of bonobo psychology is due to selection against aggression.] ''Animal Behaviour'', 83(3), 573–585. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.12.007'''
	::"Experiments indicate that selection against aggression in mammals can have multiple effects on their morphology, physiology, behaviour and psychology, and that these results resemble a syndrome of changes observed in domestic animals. [...] In domesticated species, the characteristic down-regulation of aggressiveness and increased tolerance is accompanied by other differences, [...] behavioural changes include [...] increased pro-social behaviours, particularly play, nonconceptive sexual behaviour and grooming (Hemmer 1990; Clutton-Brock 1992; Coppinger & Coppinger 1998; Kunzl & Sachser 1999; Gariépy et al. 2001)."		::"Experiments indicate that selection against aggression in mammals can have multiple effects on their morphology, physiology, behaviour and psychology, and that these results resemble a syndrome of changes observed in domestic animals. [...] In domesticated species, the characteristic down-regulation of aggressiveness and increased tolerance is accompanied by other differences, [...] behavioural changes include [...] increased pro-social behaviours, particularly play, nonconceptive sexual behaviour and grooming (Hemmer 1990; Clutton-Brock 1992; Coppinger & Coppinger 1998; Kunzl & Sachser 1999; Gariépy et al. 2001)."

Thorn: /* Nonconceptive sociosexual behavior as a result of self-domestication */

2026-07-16T20:36:47Z

Nonconceptive sociosexual behavior as a result of self-domestication

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:36, 16 July 2026
Line 92:		Line 92:

	== Nonconceptive sociosexual behavior as a result of self-domestication ==		== Nonconceptive sociosexual behavior as a result of self-domestication ==
	~~There is a suggestion~~ that ~~the~~ nonconceptive sociosexual behaviour, which include homosexual and intergenerational sexual contacts, ~~universally~~ accompanies evolutionary and artificial selection against aggression ("domestication") being embedded in general pattern of juvenilization (like mammalian juvenile sex play).		It has been suggested that nonconceptive sociosexual behaviour, which include homosexual and intergenerational sexual contacts, consistently accompanies both evolutionary and artificial selection against aggression ("domestication") being embedded in general pattern of juvenilization (like mammalian juvenile sex play).
	*'''Hare, B., Wobber, V., & Wrangham, R. (2012). [https://evolutionaryanthropology.duke.edu/sites/evolutionaryanthropology.duke.edu/files/site-images/hare-et-al-2012-self-domestication.original.pdf The self-domestication hypothesis: Evolution of bonobo psychology is due to selection against aggression.] ''Animal Behaviour'', 83(3), 573–585. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.12.007'''		*'''Hare, B., Wobber, V., & Wrangham, R. (2012). [https://evolutionaryanthropology.duke.edu/sites/evolutionaryanthropology.duke.edu/files/site-images/hare-et-al-2012-self-domestication.original.pdf The self-domestication hypothesis: Evolution of bonobo psychology is due to selection against aggression.] ''Animal Behaviour'', 83(3), 573–585. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2011.12.007'''
	::"Experiments indicate that selection against aggression in mammals can have multiple effects on their morphology, physiology, behaviour and psychology, and that these results resemble a syndrome of changes observed in domestic animals. [...] In domesticated species, the characteristic down-regulation of aggressiveness and increased tolerance is accompanied by other differences, [...] behavioural changes include [...] increased pro-social behaviours, particularly play, nonconceptive sexual behaviour and grooming (Hemmer 1990; Clutton-Brock 1992; Coppinger & Coppinger 1998; Kunzl & Sachser 1999; Gariépy et al. 2001)."		::"Experiments indicate that selection against aggression in mammals can have multiple effects on their morphology, physiology, behaviour and psychology, and that these results resemble a syndrome of changes observed in domestic animals. [...] In domesticated species, the characteristic down-regulation of aggressiveness and increased tolerance is accompanied by other differences, [...] behavioural changes include [...] increased pro-social behaviours, particularly play, nonconceptive sexual behaviour and grooming (Hemmer 1990; Clutton-Brock 1992; Coppinger & Coppinger 1998; Kunzl & Sachser 1999; Gariépy et al. 2001)."

Thorn at 20:33, 16 July 2026

2026-07-16T20:33:33Z

@@ Line 69: / Line 69: @@
 *: “Dominance between group members is also expressed by ritualized mounting, and submission, in turn, is expressed by female-type presenting. From these kinds of greeting rituals have evolved behaviors such as those of hamadryas baboons, in which males approaching high-ranking individuals present as if they, the presenters, were females. Their buttocks are hairless and red in mimicry of the female buttocks, thus enhancing the signal value of presenting (Wiclder, 1966, 1967b). The high-ranking individual may mount or just perform the intention to mount in response to the other's presenting. This use by primates of sexual motor patterns to acknowledge dominance rank order has often been interpreted as being equivalent to human homosexuality. This interpretation is an oversimplification. These sexual motor patterns are derived from copulatory behaviors but, then, have acquired a new function related to social hierarchies: mounting serves as an indication of dominance, and presenting serves as an indication of submission, an agonistic buffer in a greeting context”
 *:“Children have characteristics, such as small size, that facilitate adult males' feeling dominant to them, as occurs in pedosexual behavior.”
 == Sex for reconciliation and food sharing ==
@@ Line 108: / Line 90: @@
 * '''Mackey, Wade C. (1990). Adult·Male/Juvenile Association as a Species-Characteristic Human Trait: A Comparative Field Approach. In: Jay R. Feierman (Ed.), [https://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=3CA15750CD7EC06C3052B55B5E16C76D Pedophilia: Biosocial Dimensions] (pp. 299–323). Springer, New York. doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_12'''
 *: "As pointed out earlier, human adult males share food/provisions with their young, and this sharing by adult males is relatively rare across the zoological kingdom. It is reasonable that the sharing of a most valuable commodity -- food -- is much easier emotionally for the provisioner if the provisioner "likes" the recipient, and conversely, a recipient tends to like someone who feeds him or her, especially during the dependency of preadulthood. Accordingly, the behavioral enhancement of any neurohormonal mechanisms (subtended by the relevant genetic material) that resulted in greater affiliative feelings, toward juveniles, for example, would facilitate food sharing. The facilitation might be further sensitized by the stimulus of those young who are provisioned showing outward signs of affiliation towards the provisioner. Across generations, the increased provisioning of juveniles by adult males would marginally increase those juveniles' viability, thereby increasing those adult males' chances of having descendants. Thus, the alleles in adult males and juveniles that canalized reciprocal adult-male/juvenile affiliative behavior, in general, and the resultant specific adult-male/juvenile association, in particular, would gradually and systematically displace competing alleles that did not facilitate the development of affiliation between adult males and juveniles. In the 20th century, food sharing from human adult males to juveniles has been found to be a universal practice"
 == Sex as an attachment promoter. Development of paternal investment==

Thorn: /* Sex as a buffer for aggression */

2026-07-16T20:30:26Z

Sex as a buffer for aggression

@@ Line 62: / Line 62: @@
 *: "Why then are these unrelated males forming special affiliations with and investing in these infants? Proponents of this view suggest that males form special relationships with infants as a means whereby they may develop a closer and stronger affiliative relationship with the infant's mother. This enhanced, or special, relationship with the mother, in turn, enhances the male's chances of mating with this female in the future."
-== Sex as a buffer for aggression ==
+== Sex as a buffer against aggression ==
 Ethologist Irenäus Eibl-Eibesfeldt suggested that the interconnection between sex and dominance is the basic ("reptilian") way of vertebrate sexuality organization. Aggression and dominance acquired a functional connection with male sexuality due to the fact that aggressive and dominant males tended to win in sexual competition. In contrast, submission was embedded in female sexuality. The submissive posture of the female ready for mating is a stimulus to transform male’s aggressive drive to the sexual drive. This prevents injuries and allows mating to occur. Thus aggression, dominance and submission were sexualized, and sexuality acquired the ability to buffer aggression in hierarchical relationships. (The manifestation of that ability is that the appeasing posture of a defeated enemy in animals often resembles the posture of a female ready to mate). Eibl-Eibesfeldt supposed that it is possible that this function could be partly transferred into the adult-juvenile hierarchical relationship (Eibl-Eibesfeldt, 1990<ref name=":1">[https://sci-hub.se/https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_6 Eibl-Eibesfeldt, Irenäus (1990). Dominance, Submission, and Love: Sexual Pathologies from the Perspective of Ethology.] In: Jay R. Feierman (Ed.), [https://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=3CA15750CD7EC06C3052B55B5E16C76D Pedophilia: Biosocial Dimensions] (pp. 150–175). Springer, New York. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_6</ref>).
@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 * '''Eibl-Eibesfeldt, Irenäus (1990). [https://sci-hub.se/https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_6  Dominance, Submission, and Love: Sexual Pathologies from the Perspective of Ethology.] In: Jay R. Feierman (Ed.), [https://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=3CA15750CD7EC06C3052B55B5E16C76D Pedophilia: Biosocial Dimensions] (pp. 150–175). Springer, New York. doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_6'''
 *: “Dominance between group members is also expressed by ritualized mounting, and submission, in turn, is expressed by female-type presenting. From these kinds of greeting rituals have evolved behaviors such as those of hamadryas baboons, in which males approaching high-ranking individuals present as if they, the presenters, were females. Their buttocks are hairless and red in mimicry of the female buttocks, thus enhancing the signal value of presenting (Wiclder, 1966, 1967b). The high-ranking individual may mount or just perform the intention to mount in response to the other's presenting. This use by primates of sexual motor patterns to acknowledge dominance rank order has often been interpreted as being equivalent to human homosexuality. This interpretation is an oversimplification. These sexual motor patterns are derived from copulatory behaviors but, then, have acquired a new function related to social hierarchies: mounting serves as an indication of dominance, and presenting serves as an indication of submission, an agonistic buffer in a greeting context”
 *:“Children have characteristics, such as small size, that facilitate adult males' feeling dominant to them, as occurs in pedosexual behavior.”
 == Sex for reconciliation and food sharing ==

Thorn: /* Evolutionary product of human neotenization */

2026-07-15T16:06:34Z

Evolutionary product of human neotenization

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:06, 15 July 2026
Line 160:		Line 160:
	*:"Using phylogenetic comparative methods with 230 different species, Opie et al. (2013) found that the evolution of monogamy is strongly related to paternal care of offspring"		*:"Using phylogenetic comparative methods with 230 different species, Opie et al. (2013) found that the evolution of monogamy is strongly related to paternal care of offspring"

	== Evolutionary product of human neotenization ==		== Evolutionary (by)product of human neotenization ==
	Another factor of pedosexual attraction emergence is a human neotenization. The evolutionary advantage of retaining neotenic (childish) traits which elicit nurturing responses from adults, results in the retention of neotenic genetic traits due to sexual competition. Therefore such traits become sexually attractive. That leads to the observable progressive neotenization of humans in comparison with ancestors and subsequently increases likelihood of juveniles being sexually attractive. Since fertile females retained juvenile traits into their fertile years, the line between fertile and infertile female age became blurred. Thus, some males become oriented toward females who are too young for reproduction (Feierman, 1990<ref name=":5" />).		Another factor of pedosexual attraction emergence is a human neotenization. The evolutionary advantage of retaining neotenic (childish) traits which elicit nurturing responses from adults, results in the retention of neotenic genetic traits due to sexual competition. Therefore such traits become sexually attractive. That leads to the observable progressive neotenization of humans in comparison with ancestors and subsequently increases likelihood of juveniles being sexually attractive. Since fertile females retained juvenile traits into their fertile years, the line between fertile and infertile female age became blurred. Thus, some males become oriented toward females who are too young for reproduction (Feierman, 1990<ref name=":5" />).

Thorn: /* Evolutionary product of human neotenization */

2026-07-15T16:05:52Z

Evolutionary product of human neotenization

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:05, 15 July 2026
Line 173:		Line 173:
	*'''Bogin, B. (1997). [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/%28SICI%291096-8644%281997%2925%20%3C63%3A%3AAID-AJPA3%3E3.0.CO%3B2-8 Evolutionary hypotheses for human childhood]. ''Yearbook of Physical Anthropology'', 40, 63–89.'''		*'''Bogin, B. (1997). [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/%28SICI%291096-8644%281997%2925%20%3C63%3A%3AAID-AJPA3%3E3.0.CO%3B2-8 Evolutionary hypotheses for human childhood]. ''Yearbook of Physical Anthropology'', 40, 63–89.'''
	*:"Taken together, these studies indicate that adults are more likely to protect or nuture individuals with ‘‘neotenous’’ facial features. McCabe defines such features as having a relatively large ratio of cranium size to lower face size."		*:"Taken together, these studies indicate that adults are more likely to protect or nuture individuals with ‘‘neotenous’’ facial features. McCabe defines such features as having a relatively large ratio of cranium size to lower face size."

			*'''Bixler, R. H. (1992). "Do we/should we behave like animals?" In: W. T. O’Donohue & J. H. Geer (Eds.), The sexual abuse of children: Volume I—Theory and research (pp. 81–107). ''Routledge''. doi: 10.4324/9781315799698-7'''
			::"Our ability to imagine young children as sexual partners is probably increased substantially by two other unusual characteristics: neoteny and hidden estrus. Neoteny, the retention of juvenile traits in adulthood, is far more extensive in Homo sapiens than in any other primate (Bonner, 1980; Gould, 1977). Human adults resemble their small children a great deal more than adult primates do their immature offspring. [...] Moreover, many adolescent boys and young adults are beardless and they often have a complexion similar to that of young women and children. To confuse our senses further and muddle our minds, one- to two-fifths of young adolescent boys experience breast enlargement for a year or more (Katchadourian, 1977; Tanner, 1978). A similar case can be made for behavior. When we find in other animals the behavioral or physical traits of the young to be similar to adult female patterns we often find males courting the immature."
			::"A concealed estrus combined with continuous female sexual receptivity and neoteny ought to increase the likelihood that men will find young girls sexually attractive, especially since males are not known anyway for making subtle differentiations between appropriate and inappropriate sex partners. Since women are more discriminating and, furthermore, would not be as confused by the facial resemblance of potential immature and adult sexual partners or by the conundrum of hidden estrus, female pedophilia should be much less common. Male homosexual pedophilia should fall somewhere in between."

	The common hypothesis about pedosexuality is that it is merely a by-product of human neotenization. However, there are also arguments that diverse sexuality in adults (including homosexuality and pedosexuality, as seen, for example, in bonobos) in itself is a form of adaptive neoteny. Juvenile bisexual play is widespread among mammals and serves to acquire reproductive skills. Retaining this ability in adulthood may serve a range of sociosexual functions.		The common hypothesis about pedosexuality is that it is merely a by-product of human neotenization. However, there are also arguments that diverse sexuality in adults (including homosexuality and pedosexuality, as seen, for example, in bonobos) in itself is a form of adaptive neoteny. Juvenile bisexual play is widespread among mammals and serves to acquire reproductive skills. Retaining this ability in adulthood may serve a range of sociosexual functions.

Thorn: /* Help in developing sexual ability */

2026-07-15T15:56:16Z

Help in developing sexual ability

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:56, 15 July 2026
Line 50:		Line 50:
	*'''De Waal, Frans B. M. (1990). [https://sci-hub.se/https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_15 Sociosexual behavior used for tension regulation in all age and sex combinations among bonobos.] In: Jay R. Feierman (Ed.), [https://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=3CA15750CD7EC06C3052B55B5E16C76D Pedophilia: Biosocial Dimensions] (pp. 378–393). Springer, New York. doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_15'''		*'''De Waal, Frans B. M. (1990). [https://sci-hub.se/https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_15 Sociosexual behavior used for tension regulation in all age and sex combinations among bonobos.] In: Jay R. Feierman (Ed.), [https://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=3CA15750CD7EC06C3052B55B5E16C76D Pedophilia: Biosocial Dimensions] (pp. 378–393). Springer, New York. doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_15'''
	*: "Thus, juvenile male chimpanzees are attracted to females in estrus, and pubertal females begin to explore sexual contact with older males as soon as their genital swellings develop (van der Weel, 1978; de Waal, 1982; Goodall, 1986). Such intergenerational experience undoubtedly contributes to the development of adequate sexual skills."		*: "Thus, juvenile male chimpanzees are attracted to females in estrus, and pubertal females begin to explore sexual contact with older males as soon as their genital swellings develop (van der Weel, 1978; de Waal, 1982; Goodall, 1986). Such intergenerational experience undoubtedly contributes to the development of adequate sexual skills."

			*'''Bixler, R. H. (1992). "Do we/should we behave like animals?" In: W. T. O’Donohue & J. H. Geer (Eds.), The sexual abuse of children: Volume I—Theory and research (pp. 81–107). ''Routledge''. doi: 10.4324/9781315799698-7'''
			::"Any behavior that is indisputably essential to survival, adaptation, or reproductive success develops in many different forms in different species, and often even varies in the same species in different environments. ‘The evolution of sex and sexual behavior is certainly no exception (Margulis & Sagan, 1986). It is, therefore, not surprising to find that mature and immature conspecifics engage each other in myriad sexual practices (Crews & Moore, 1986). [...] It is certainly no accident that species in which the immature play are also the ones most involved in preadolescent sex. Of those warmblooded, slowly maturing organisms that play (mostly mammals), an undetermined, but probably very large, number engage in sexual ventures. On the other hand, young animals that metamorphize into adult form and those with an exceedingly brief immaturity are obviously poor candidates for sexual participation with adults."
			::"The fascinating evolutionary component is the appearance of play; sexual encounters of mature with immature animals that do not play differ sharply from the sexual interactions of those that do. [...] Sexual activity of young mammals is a clear aid to their performing adequately and sex play is probably essential to the development of normal adult primate copulation (Harlow, 1962; Wallen, Goldfoot, & Goy, 1981). "

	== Advantage in sexual competition ==		== Advantage in sexual competition ==

Thorn: /* Adaptation to the lack of success in male sexual competition */

2026-07-15T15:50:51Z

Adaptation to the lack of success in male sexual competition

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:50, 15 July 2026
Line 6:		Line 6:
	The emergence of such sexuality has several [[Wikipedia:Darwinism\|evolutionary explanations]] with varying degrees of evidence, which come from [[Wikipedia:Ethology\|ethology]] and [[Wikipedia:Neuroscience\|neuroscience]]. There are suggestions that, in our evolutionary past, pedosexual behaviors could have had some evolutionary functions or been an evolutionary by-product of human sexuality development. These explanations may have pragmatic implications for the [[Research: A "cure" for pedophilia?#Psychological wellbeing for MAPs\|well-being]] of both MAPs and minors. "Evolutionary scenarios are not just interesting explanatory “stories,” but can illuminate limits as well as opportunities for intervention" (Del Giudice M., 2014). Here is an attempt to categorize these hypotheses, although they overlap greatly and can hardly be considered separately. Rather, they describe different aspects of a complex evolutionary process.		The emergence of such sexuality has several [[Wikipedia:Darwinism\|evolutionary explanations]] with varying degrees of evidence, which come from [[Wikipedia:Ethology\|ethology]] and [[Wikipedia:Neuroscience\|neuroscience]]. There are suggestions that, in our evolutionary past, pedosexual behaviors could have had some evolutionary functions or been an evolutionary by-product of human sexuality development. These explanations may have pragmatic implications for the [[Research: A "cure" for pedophilia?#Psychological wellbeing for MAPs\|well-being]] of both MAPs and minors. "Evolutionary scenarios are not just interesting explanatory “stories,” but can illuminate limits as well as opportunities for intervention" (Del Giudice M., 2014). Here is an attempt to categorize these hypotheses, although they overlap greatly and can hardly be considered separately. Rather, they describe different aspects of a complex evolutionary process.

	== Adaptation to the lack of success in ~~male~~ sexual competition ==		== Adaptation to the lack of success in sexual competition ==
	One hypothesis is that if a male is unsuccessful in sexual competition for fertile females, and he chronically feels inferior to others and is afraid of other adults, then his sexuality towards adults may be suppressed and redirected towards children, because children do not cause fear, and next to them the male feels his strength and superiority. Male's sexuality is more associated with dominance and this may explain the greater prevalence of attraction to children among men than among women.<ref>[https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_5 Medicus, G., Hopf, S. (1990). The Phylogeny of Male/Female Differences in Sexual Behavior.] In: Feierman, J.R. (eds) [https://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=3CA15750CD7EC06C3052B55B5E16C76D Pedophilia: Biosocial Dimensions] Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_5</ref>		One hypothesis is that if a male is unsuccessful in sexual competition for fertile females, and he chronically feels inferior to others and is afraid of other adults, then his sexuality towards adults may be suppressed and redirected towards children, because children do not cause fear, and next to them the male feels his strength and superiority. Male's sexuality is more associated with dominance and this may explain the greater prevalence of attraction to children among men than among women.<ref>[https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_5 Medicus, G., Hopf, S. (1990). The Phylogeny of Male/Female Differences in Sexual Behavior.] In: Feierman, J.R. (eds) [https://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=3CA15750CD7EC06C3052B55B5E16C76D Pedophilia: Biosocial Dimensions] Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_5</ref>

Line 20:		Line 20:
	*'''Connie M. Anderson (1990). "Adolescent/Adult Copulatory Behavior in Nonhuman Primates." In: Jay R. Feierman (Ed.), [https://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=3CA15750CD7EC06C3052B55B5E16C76D Pedophilia: Biosocial Dimensions] (pp. 324–337). Springer, New York. doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_13'''		*'''Connie M. Anderson (1990). "Adolescent/Adult Copulatory Behavior in Nonhuman Primates." In: Jay R. Feierman (Ed.), [https://libgen.is/book/index.php?md5=3CA15750CD7EC06C3052B55B5E16C76D Pedophilia: Biosocial Dimensions] (pp. 324–337). Springer, New York. doi:10.1007/978-1-4613-9682-6_13'''
	*: "Adult, subadult, and adolescent females are monopolized by adult male harem-holders, leaving a few adult and all subadult males without adult sexual partners. Under these conditions, males without harems choose a particular juvenile female to follow and display intense parental-like behavior towards her. Eventually, she becomes the first individual in the male's harem, and he begins mating with her at her first estrous swelling. Thus, both parental-like and copulatory motor patterns are directed at the same individual over the course of time and, for a brief period, even simultaneously."		*: "Adult, subadult, and adolescent females are monopolized by adult male harem-holders, leaving a few adult and all subadult males without adult sexual partners. Under these conditions, males without harems choose a particular juvenile female to follow and display intense parental-like behavior towards her. Eventually, she becomes the first individual in the male's harem, and he begins mating with her at her first estrous swelling. Thus, both parental-like and copulatory motor patterns are directed at the same individual over the course of time and, for a brief period, even simultaneously."

			*'''Bixler, R. H. (1992). "Do we/should we behave like animals?" In: W. T. O’Donohue & J. H. Geer (Eds.), The sexual abuse of children: Volume I—Theory and research (pp. 81–107). ''Routledge''. doi: 10.4324/9781315799698-7'''
			::"Neither very young mature females nor males are desirable mates. [...] On the other hand, the lowest ranking, and therefore unattractive adult males and females do seek matings with adolescents. Low-status females are especially prone to seducing the almost always eager and obliging young males. It is quite likely that these inferior adults are making the best of a bad draw; any available mate is better than none at all in the harsh world of reproductive competition."

	== Reproductive value pressure ==		== Reproductive value pressure ==