Evolutionary models for male androphilia

Thumbnail Image
Date
2011
Authors
Forrester, Deanna Lee
University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Lethbridge, Alta. : University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Psychology, 2011
Abstract
Androphilia refers to sexual attraction and arousal to adult males, whereas gynephilia refers to sexual attraction and arousal to adult females. Prehistoric artifacts such as art and pottery indicate that male-male same sex behaviour has existed for millennia. Bearing this in mind, and considering that male androphilia has a genetic component yet androphilic males reproduce at a fraction of the rate than do gynephilic males, how the genes for male androphilia have been maintained in the population presents an evolutionary puzzle. This thesis tests two hypotheses that attempt to address this Darwinian paradox. Chapter one reviews the current literature on the kin selection hypothesis and the sexually antagonistic gene hypothesis. In addition, rationales for testing these hypotheses in Canada are provided. Chapter two tests the kin selection hypothesis for male androphilia within a Canadian population. Results and implications are discussed. Chapter three tests the sexually antagonistic gene hypothesis within a Canadian population. Results and implications are discussed. Chapter four summarizes the results of the two studies and discusses how these findings may be interpreted from an evolutionary perspective. The impacts of gene-environment interaction on the functional behavioral expression of traits are emphasized.
Description
viii, 113 leaves ; 29 cm
Keywords
Sexual attraction , Gays , Gay men , Male homosexuality , Kin selection (Evolution) , Evolution , Evolutionary genetics , Dissertations, Academic
Citation