Abstract
A commonplace observation in humans is that close genetic relatives tend to avoid one another as sexual partners. Despite the growing psychological research on how antierotic attitudes develop toward relatives, few studies have focused on actual behavior. One prediction, stemming from parental investment theory, is that women should be more vigilant of reproduction-compromising behaviors, such as inbreeding, during times of peak fertility than during times of low fertility. Indeed, females of other species avoid interactions with male kin when fertile-but the corollary behavior in humans has yet to be explored. Here we fill this gap. Using duration and frequency of cell-phone calls, an objective behavioral measure that reflects motivations to interact socially, we show that women selectively avoid interactions with their fathers during peak fertility. Avoidance specifically targeted fathers, which rules out alternative explanations. These data suggest that psychological mechanisms underlying mating psychology regulate sexual avoidance behaviors, and in women they fluctuate according to fertility status.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 13-18 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Psychological Science |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2011 |
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Keywords
- communication
- fertility
- inbreeding avoidance
- kin
- menstrual cycle
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Psychology(all)
Cite this
Kin affiliation across the ovulatory cycle : Females avoid fathers when fertile. / Lieberman, Debra; Pillsworth, Elizabeth G.; Haselton, Martie G.
In: Psychological Science, Vol. 22, No. 1, 01.01.2011, p. 13-18.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Kin affiliation across the ovulatory cycle
T2 - Females avoid fathers when fertile
AU - Lieberman, Debra
AU - Pillsworth, Elizabeth G.
AU - Haselton, Martie G.
PY - 2011/1/1
Y1 - 2011/1/1
N2 - A commonplace observation in humans is that close genetic relatives tend to avoid one another as sexual partners. Despite the growing psychological research on how antierotic attitudes develop toward relatives, few studies have focused on actual behavior. One prediction, stemming from parental investment theory, is that women should be more vigilant of reproduction-compromising behaviors, such as inbreeding, during times of peak fertility than during times of low fertility. Indeed, females of other species avoid interactions with male kin when fertile-but the corollary behavior in humans has yet to be explored. Here we fill this gap. Using duration and frequency of cell-phone calls, an objective behavioral measure that reflects motivations to interact socially, we show that women selectively avoid interactions with their fathers during peak fertility. Avoidance specifically targeted fathers, which rules out alternative explanations. These data suggest that psychological mechanisms underlying mating psychology regulate sexual avoidance behaviors, and in women they fluctuate according to fertility status.
AB - A commonplace observation in humans is that close genetic relatives tend to avoid one another as sexual partners. Despite the growing psychological research on how antierotic attitudes develop toward relatives, few studies have focused on actual behavior. One prediction, stemming from parental investment theory, is that women should be more vigilant of reproduction-compromising behaviors, such as inbreeding, during times of peak fertility than during times of low fertility. Indeed, females of other species avoid interactions with male kin when fertile-but the corollary behavior in humans has yet to be explored. Here we fill this gap. Using duration and frequency of cell-phone calls, an objective behavioral measure that reflects motivations to interact socially, we show that women selectively avoid interactions with their fathers during peak fertility. Avoidance specifically targeted fathers, which rules out alternative explanations. These data suggest that psychological mechanisms underlying mating psychology regulate sexual avoidance behaviors, and in women they fluctuate according to fertility status.
KW - communication
KW - fertility
KW - inbreeding avoidance
KW - kin
KW - menstrual cycle
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=78951480375&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0956797610390385
DO - 10.1177/0956797610390385
M3 - Article
C2 - 21106894
AN - SCOPUS:78951480375
VL - 22
SP - 13
EP - 18
JO - Psychological Science
JF - Psychological Science
SN - 0956-7976
IS - 1
ER -