Evolution and Human Behavior最新文献

{"title":"Cross-sex theory of mind in the domain of sexual violence: upset, fear, and perceived likelihood","authors":"Rebecka K. Hahnel-Peeters ,&nbsp;William Costello ,&nbsp;Paola Baca ,&nbsp;David P. Schmitt ,&nbsp;David M. Buss","doi":"10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2026.106835","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2026.106835","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>An evolutionary perspective on theory of mind (ToM) leads us to hypothesize that inferences about others' beliefs, desires, and emotions are somewhat domain specific. In domains in which women and men have recurrently confronted different adaptive problems, selection should favor sex-differentiated ToM design features. One such domain centers on sexual violence; men have been the primary perpetrators and women the primary victims over time and across cultures. Using a mixed-subjects design (<em>N</em> = 781; 39% men), we tested two preregistered competing evolutionary hypotheses of sex-differentiated ToM inferences. The <em>byproduct hypothesis</em> posits that mind-reading errors occur because individuals use their own sexual psychology as a reference point, leading to an egocentric bias when inferring emotional reactions in the other sex. The <em>adaptation hypothesis</em> posits selection has favored adaptive inferential biases, analogous to men's oversexualization bias, that function to minimize more costly errors even if they result in more frequent low-cost errors. These biases could function to facilitate some sexual strategies. Underestimating victims' upset from sexual assault, for example, could facilitate a sexually exploitative strategy. We tested several predictions from both the <em>byproduct hypothesis</em> and the <em>adaptation hypothesis</em> across dimensions of cross-sex inference—upset, fear, and perceived likelihood of sexual victimization in a sample collected from social media and a public university in the southern United States. Men, on average, statistically underperceived women's self-reported upset following intimate partner sexual assault (Cohen's <em>d</em> = 0.48). Women, on average, statistically overperceived men's self-reported upset (Cohen's <em>d</em> = 0.64). In contrast, men and women were relatively accurate in predicting the opposite sex's fear of sexual violence<em>.</em> Men accurately inferred women's perceived likelihood of sexual victimization; whereas women statistically overestimated men's perceived likelihood of victimization (Cohen's <em>d</em> = 0.69). We tested individual differences theoretically relevant to the <em>adaptation hypothesis</em>. Discussion focuses on evidence bearing on adaptation and byproduct hypotheses.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55159,"journal":{"name":"Evolution and Human Behavior","volume":"47 2","pages":"Article 106835"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Questioning claims of parasite-induced sexual aggression in humans","authors":"Andrew A. Davinack","doi":"10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2026.106836","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2026.106836","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55159,"journal":{"name":"Evolution and Human Behavior","volume":"47 2","pages":"Article 106836"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023671","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Early sex differences in sociosexual behavior of wild robust capuchin monkeys: Ontogenetic and evolutionary insights","authors":"Irene Delval ,&nbsp;Solimary García-Hernández ,&nbsp;Nayara Teles ,&nbsp;Juan Caixeta ,&nbsp;Leonardo Cezar ,&nbsp;Jaroslava V. Valentova ,&nbsp;Patrícia Izar ,&nbsp;Jean-Baptiste Leca","doi":"10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2026.106834","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2026.106834","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sex differences in sexual behavior are a fundamental aspect of reproductive strategies across animal species, including primates. While non-reproductive sexual behaviors such as play and courtship can support social bonding and skill acquisition, their developmental origins remain underexplored. We investigated the ontogeny of sociosexual behavior in 16 wild infant robust capuchin monkeys (<em>Sapajus libidinosus</em> and <em>S. xanthosternos</em>) observed longitudinally over their first year of life. In particular, we explored the influence of sex, age, species, breeding season (inferred from birth season and gestation length), and individual identity on these behaviors. We found that males displayed sexual behaviors earlier, more frequently, and with greater diversity than females, despite adult Sapajus courtship being predominantly female-led. Sociosexual behaviors increased in frequency and complexity with age. Species differences were not significant, aligning with similarities in adult sexual patterns, and we didn't find an influence of the breeding season on sexual behavioral rates. Overall, our results suggest that sociosexual behavior in capuchins is sexually differentiated from infancy, follows a flexible developmental trajectory, and may serve functions beyond reproduction. These findings challenge the practice hypothesis, which posits that early sexual behaviors primarily serve as rehearsal for adult reproductive roles. Instead, they suggest that early sociosexual behaviors may reflect sex-specific developmental pathways linked to hormonal maturation or broader social functions such as bonding, dominance, or motor skill acquisition. Our results highlight the flexibility of primate sexual development and contribute to comparative perspectives on the evolution of sexual behavior in humans and other primates.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55159,"journal":{"name":"Evolution and Human Behavior","volume":"47 2","pages":"Article 106834"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146078631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Health, attractiveness, and marriageability among Aka hunter-gatherers and Ngandu farmer adolescents and young adults in the Central African Republic","authors":"Bonnie Hewlett ,&nbsp;Harshita Agrawal ,&nbsp;Barry Hewlett","doi":"10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2025.106815","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2025.106815","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates how adolescents from two culturally distinct Central African communities—the Aka hunter-gatherers and Ngandu farmers—perceive health, attractiveness, and marriageability, focusing on how local socio-ecological contexts shape perceptions of health, attraction, and mate preferences. The research examines how body mass index and parasite load relate to perceived health and attractiveness. Seventy-five adolescents (39 Aka and 36 Ngandu) evaluated photographs of peers for health, attractiveness, and marriagability, while physical health was objectively measured using anthropometric and parasitological data. Regression analyses revealed that BMI was a consistent and significant predictor of both perceived health and attractiveness, whereas total parasite load did not significantly influence either outcome. Notably, perceptions of health strongly predicted attractiveness and marriageability, but not vice versa. Ethnic and gender differences in perception were also found: Aka adolescents prioritized social traits like kindness and cooperation, while Ngandu participants emphasized physical cleanliness and robustness. Male raters showed more variability and stricter standards, particularly when evaluating females. These findings underscore the role of robust phenotypic features, such as BMI, in determining how health, beauty, and reproductive value are interpreted. This research contributes to understanding how evolutionarily evolved preferences and cultural contexts shape perceptions of health, attraction, and marriageability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55159,"journal":{"name":"Evolution and Human Behavior","volume":"47 2","pages":"Article 106815"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145927397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Existential security and the cultural evolution of secularisation in Mauritius","authors":"Nachita Rosun ,&nbsp;Matthew M. Gervais ,&nbsp;Aiyana K. Willard","doi":"10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2026.106832","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2026.106832","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite the central role of religion in human history and its continued global growth, an increasing number of individuals identify as secular or atheist across many parts of the world. Several evolutionary, social, and economic theories attempt to explain this process of decline, but most empirical tests of these theories focus on post-industrial, primarily Christian countries in the Global North. This study widens the comparative lens within a cultural evolutionary framework: we test two theories of religious change, the existential insecurity hypothesis and cultural transmission models of religion, among three religious communities (Chrisitan, Hindu, Muslim) in the rapidly transitioning population of Mauritius. Contrary to theoretical accounts, existential security variables such as neighbourhood quality, household material security, and years of education have no consistent main effect on individual religious belief and practice. Perceived valuation of education by one's religious community bolsters individual religiosity, while perceived family valuation of education reduces belief. Exposure to religious displays (CREDs) from family members positively predicts individual religious belief and practices, however household material security influences these effects: exposure to religious displays is more influential at higher levels of material security, and at low levels of security, religiosity is relatively stable. This suggests that religious socialisation within the family is critical to the transmission of religion among those with high material security. These results demonstrate how the cultural evolutionary processes that give rise to religion may be sensitive to socioecological pressures.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55159,"journal":{"name":"Evolution and Human Behavior","volume":"47 2","pages":"Article 106832"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146173170","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correlated perceptions and underlying hormonal factors of bodily, facial, and vocal attractiveness, health, and physical dominance","authors":"Tobias L. Kordsmeyer ,&nbsp;Philine A.C. Rasokat ,&nbsp;Julia Stern ,&nbsp;Christoph Schild ,&nbsp;Lars Penke","doi":"10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2025.106818","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2025.106818","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Previous research has shown that attractiveness perceptions of male body parts and modalities correlate with each other. These findings support the <em>one ornament hypothesis</em>, according to which individual body parts and modalities have a common underlying latent cause and vicariously function as an indicator of genetic quality during mate choice. In contrast, the <em>multiple messages hypothesis</em> suggests that different body parts and modalities signal distinct and non-redundant information about mate quality. This preregistered study sought to replicate and extend findings on correlated perceptions of men's and women's facial, bodily, and vocal attractiveness, health, and physical dominance. Partial mediation by sex hormone levels (testosterone, estradiol) was analysed as purported mechanisms involved in the development of sexually dimorphic characteristics influencing perceptions. Facial photos, voice recordings, and 3D body scans of 165 men and 155 women were judged separately for attractiveness, health, and physical dominance by overall 400 raters. Results showed medium-sized positive correlations for faces and bodies for all three attributes, but only few significant associations of vocal with facial or bodily judgments. Correlated perceptions showed some variation by target sex. Thus, our results are more in line with the one ornament hypothesis for faces and bodies, and more with the multiple messages hypothesis for voices. No significant partial mediation by hormone levels aligning with hypotheses was found. Future studies should include further stimuli and examine additional hormonal variables to elucidate endocrine mechanisms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55159,"journal":{"name":"Evolution and Human Behavior","volume":"47 2","pages":"Article 106818"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145886228","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A cue-based approach to sociometer theory: Waist-to-hip ratio and lumbar curvature predict females' self-esteem","authors":"Sam P. Dale ,&nbsp;Jessica Ranson ,&nbsp;Kortnee C. Evans ,&nbsp;David M.G. Lewis","doi":"10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2026.106829","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2026.106829","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Self-esteem is hypothesized to be an evolved psychological system that monitors and responds to cues to one's own relational value. Here, we employ a novel, cue-based approach to generate and test the hypothesis that self-esteem tracks specific, fitness-relevant morphological features. Specifically<em>,</em> we investigated whether females' self-esteem systematically varies as a function of their waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and lumbar curvature (LC). Participants (<em>N</em> = 177) indicated on two body morph arrays—one varying in WHR and one varying in LC—the morphs that corresponded to (i) their current levels of these features, (ii) the levels they believed potential mates find most attractive, and (iii) the levels they viewed as ideal for themselves. They also completed the Body Esteem Scale and Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale. Results demonstrated that (1) participants internalized, as their own “ideal”, the levels of WHR and LC they perceived potential mates to desire, and (2) their self-esteem levels tracked the discrepancy between their idealized levels of WHR and LC and their own current levels of these features. These effects of WHR and LC on self-esteem were independent and fully mediated by their effects on body esteem. Discussion centers on how efforts to mitigate the negative effects of media exposure on women's self-esteem could potentially be improved by more precisely targeting the specific morphological cues to which self-esteem is sensitive.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55159,"journal":{"name":"Evolution and Human Behavior","volume":"47 2","pages":"Article 106829"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146023670","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From scorpion to spider: tracing the origin of fear of spiders and other chelicerates through perceptual fear generalization gradients across chelicerates","authors":"Alireza Nikakhtar ,&nbsp;Pavol Prokop ,&nbsp;Abbas Zabihzadeh ,&nbsp;Arash Monajem ,&nbsp;Mohammad Mahdi Afshar Azad","doi":"10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2026.106830","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2026.106830","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Spiders are among the most feared animals worldwide, with arachnophobia being one of the most common phobias. Biological preparedness theory proposes that such fear may reflect evolutionary adaptations to ancestral threats. Yet, the high prevalence of spider fear is puzzling, as spiders have posed minimal danger to humans compared to several other animals. One hypothesis is that fear of spiders reflects a generalization from fear of scorpions, given their morphological similarity and scorpions' higher lethality. In the current research, using fear generalization gradients, we primarily investigated whether fear of scorpions generalizes to spiders and other Chelicerates, or whether spider fear is specifically evolved to deal with spiders. A total of 374 Iranian participants completed an online questionnaire in which they rated their fear of multiple Chelicerate species and provided absolute and relative similarity judgments between them. Scorpions were rated as the most fear-evoking Chelicerates. Both absolute and relative similarity of Chelicerates to scorpions significantly predicted fear ratings in Chelicerates, and the spider's relative similarity to the scorpion was associated with higher spider fear. By contrast, the scorpion's similarity to the spider was not predictive of scorpion fear. Additionally, Chelicerates' relative similarity to the spider did not predict Chelicerates' fear ratings. However, absolute similarity to the spider indicated context-dependent significance across Chelicerates. The existence and the degree of similarity of shared traits with scorpions also predicted fear across Chelicerates. These findings support the hypothesis that scorpions serve as the primary generalization stimulus, with spider and Chelicerate fear emerging largely (if not exclusively) as a byproduct of their perceptual similarity to scorpions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55159,"journal":{"name":"Evolution and Human Behavior","volume":"47 2","pages":"Article 106830"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146173263","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Adaptive memory in contamination contexts: Exploring the role of emotionality","authors":"Magda Saraiva ,&nbsp;Josefa N.S. Pandeirada ,&nbsp;Margarida V. Garrido","doi":"10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2025.106821","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2025.106821","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Previous studies have reported a memory advantage for information previously associated with contamination cues (vs. non-contamination) – the contamination effect. In four experiments, we explored the role of emotionality in this effect. Participants recruited on prolific academic saw pictures (Experiment 1, <em>N</em> = 97; Experiment 4, <em>N</em> = 100) or names (Experiment 2, <em>N</em> = 92) of objects alongside illness (vs. neutral) descriptors or objects held by dirty (vs. clean) hands (Experiment 3, <em>N</em> = 100). Then, they recalled the objects and evaluated them in five dimensions. In Experiment 4, participants evaluated the objects before the recall task. The contamination effect was replicated across all experiments. Objects in contamination (vs. non-contamination) conditions were rated as more arousing, negative, disgusting, frightening, and with greater contamination potential. The contamination effect correlated significantly but modestly with the emotional ratings and was fully mediated by contamination potential. These findings suggest that emotionality plays a role but does not fully explain the effect.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55159,"journal":{"name":"Evolution and Human Behavior","volume":"47 2","pages":"Article 106821"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145979165","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Estimates of need, benefit, and personal connection explain monetary transfers to absolute strangers, identifiable needy others, and charitable organizations","authors":"Megan R. Mulhinch ,&nbsp;Marrissa D. Grant ,&nbsp;Eric J. Pedersen ,&nbsp;Michael E. McCullough","doi":"10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2025.106820","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2025.106820","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>People often share resources with non-relatives, even strangers. Researchers have not fully illuminated the cognitive appraisals (e.g., appraisals of the beneficiary's needs, the likelihood that the beneficiary will benefit from our help, and subjective connection to the beneficiary) that motivate such instances of impersonal generosity. Researchers' understanding of whether those appraisals account for people's elevated willingness to share with identifiable needy others and charities is even dimmer. In the two experiments presented here (total <em>N</em> = 677), Mturk and Prolific participants allocated money to three types of beneficiaries: anonymous others, real identifiable needy individuals, and real charities. On each trial, we measured participants' appraisals of the beneficiary's need and likely benefit from the donation (and, in Experiment 2, their sense of personal connection with the beneficiary), which we used to explain these beneficiary-type differences in giving. On average, participants allocated 27 % of their stakes to anonymous beneficiaries. Changing the identity from an anonymous beneficiary to an identifiable needy individual or charity raised transfers to 41 % and 40 %, respectively. All three appraisals were positively and significantly correlated with allocations. Finally, consistent with a mediational account, the effects of beneficiary type on allocations could be fully explained by the intermediate effect of the three appraisals. People may be more generous with identifiable needy others because they seem to need the help more and are more likely to benefit from it, and because they instill a greater sense of personal connection. These results shed new light on the foundations of human generosity. They also have implications for charitable organizations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55159,"journal":{"name":"Evolution and Human Behavior","volume":"47 2","pages":"Article 106820"},"PeriodicalIF":3.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145927399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}