Overview
- Editors:
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Todd K. Shackelford
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Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Davie, USA
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Nicholas Pound
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Centre for Cognition and Neuroimaging, School of Social Sciences and Law, Brunel University, UK
The only up-to-date summary of a central and popular subject
Well-known editors and authors
Provides a theoretical framework for the study of sperm competition
Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
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Table of contents (15 chapters)
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Introduction and overview
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- Nicholas Pound, Todd K. Shackelford, Aaron T. Goetz
Pages 3-31
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- Nina Wedell, Matthew J. G. Gage, Geoffrey A. Parker
Pages 47-63
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Classic readings in human sperm competition
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- R. Robin Baker, Mark A. Bellis
Pages 119-122
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- R. Robin Baker, Mark A. Bellis
Pages 127-129
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- R. Robin Baker, Mark A. Bellis
Pages 131-134
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- Mark A. Bellis, R. Robin Baker
Pages 135-139
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- R. Robin Baker, Mark A. Bellis
Pages 141-176
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- R. Robin Baker, Mark A. Bellis
Pages 177-210
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Contemporary readings in human sperm competition
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Front Matter
Pages 211-211
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- Harry D. M. Moore, M. Martin, Tim R. Birkhead
Pages 213-227
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- Todd K. Shackelford, Gregory J. LeBlanc, Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford, April L. Bleske-Rechek, Harald A. Euler, Sabine Hoier
Pages 229-244
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- Gordon G. Gallup, Rebecca L. Burch
Pages 245-254
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- Randy Thornhill, Steve W. Gangestad, Randall Comer
Pages 255-275
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Back Matter
Pages 277-283
About this book
In species with internal fertilization, sperm competition occurs when the sperm of two or more males simultaneously occupy the reproductive tract of a female and compete to fertilize an egg (Parker, 1970). A large body of empirical research has demonstrated that, as predicted by sperm competition theory, males and females in many species possess anatomical, behavioral, and physiological adaptations that have evolved to deal with the adaptive challenges associated with sperm competition. Moreover, in recent years, evolutionary biologists and psychologists have begun to examine the extent to which sperm competition may have been an important selective pressure during human evolution. Some research has suggested that male humans, like males of many bird, insect, and rodent species, might be able to adjust the number of sperm they inseminate according to the risk of sperm competition. Other research has examined whether such responses might be accompanied by psychological changes that motivate human males to pursue copulations when the risk of sperm competition is high. Furthermore, there is research suggesting that aspects of human penile anatomy might function to enhance success in sperm competition. Much of this work has been controversial; some of the findings have been disputed and others have been greeted with skepticism. However, the idea that some aspects of human psychology and behavior might best be understood as adaptations to sperm competition remains intriguing and, in certain cases, very persuasive.
Editors and Affiliations
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Department of Psychology, Florida Atlantic University, Davie, USA
Todd K. Shackelford
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Centre for Cognition and Neuroimaging, School of Social Sciences and Law, Brunel University, UK
Nicholas Pound
