Monogamy

Baeza, J.A. The symbiotic lifestyle and its evolutionary consequences: social monogamy and sex allocation in the hermaphroditic shrimp Lysmata pederseni. Naturwissenshaften 97: 729–741.

by Antonio Baeza

Baeza, J.A. and M. Díaz-Valdés. 2011. The symbiotic shrimp Ascidonia flavomaculata lives solitarily in the tunicate Ascidia mentula; implications for its mating system. Invertebrate Biology 130(4):351–361.

by Antonio Baeza

Chain marriage among the Shuar

by Steven Rubenstein

Parental defence of an empty nest after catastrophic brood loss

by Joseph Leese

We studied parental care behaviour in a field population of convict cichlids, Amatitlania siquia, a fish with... more We studied parental care behaviour in a field population of convict cichlids, Amatitlania siquia, a fish with biparental care of its free-swimming young (fry). We stimulated catastrophic brood loss by removing all of the young from 26 broods of various ages.  We recorded parental defence behaviour for 5 min preremoval and three consecutive 5 min postremoval intervals.  We then returned all of the young and recorded 5 min of parent-offspring reunion behaviour.  Following brood loss, both parents defended the empty territory and searched for missing young.  Females spent more time in the empty territory and performed more attacks in defence of the empty territory than did males.  Females searched and defended a significantly larger area than males did.  During the 15 min fry-absent period, males increasingly spent more time away, whereas females maintained a constant level of investment in searching the brood area.  Four of the 26 males (15%) engaged in courtship with a new female within 15 min of brood loss.  Attacks to repel potential predators from the brood area declined in frequency over the 15 min fry-absent period in both sexes.  Standard length (age) of young was positively correlated with parental investment for females but not males.  Number of young was positively correlated with parental investment for males but not for females.  We conclude that post-brood-loss behaviours are search and recovery tactics that contribute to parental inclusive fitness in the event of incomplete brood predation.

Cheating with Jenna: Momogamy, Pornography and Erotica

by Fiona Woollard

In Dave Monroe (ed.) Porn - Philosophy for Everyone: How to Think With Kink, (Wiley-Blackwell, 2010)

How would you feel about your husband, wife, or partner masturbating using pornography or erotica? For many, this... more How would you feel about your husband, wife, or partner masturbating using pornography or erotica? For many, this would be a betrayal – a kind of cheating. I explore whether monogamous relationships should forbid solo masturbation using erotica and pornography, considering two possible objections: (1) the objection that such activity is a kind of infidelity; (2) the objection that such activity involves attitudes, usually attitudes towards women that are incompatible with an equal, loving relationship. I argue that the use of erotic material in solo masturbation should not count as cheating. Solo use of pornography differs significantly from interpersonal sexual activity. Thus, unlike causal interpersonal sex, it does not undermine the role of sex within the relationship. Additionally, freedom to explore sexual fantasy through masturbation is an important element of sexual autonomy. Objection (2) holds against some but not all erotic material. Sexual enjoyment of pornography that depicts, or is produced by, suffering or degradation involves a way of seeing others that has implications for the user’s relationships with others, particularly sexual relationships. However, not all erotic material involves objectionable attitudes towards others. Thus partners should allow moderate use of some types of erotica in solo-masturbation.

Marriage and the Norm of Monogamy

by Fiona Woollard

(co-authored with Bryan R. Weaver), published in The Monist, Volume 91, No. 3-4 (July-October 2008).

It appears that spouses have less reason to hold each other to a norm of monogamy than to reject the norm.  The... more It appears that spouses have less reason to hold each other to a norm of monogamy than to reject the norm.  The norm of monogamy involves a restriction of spouses’ access to two things of value: sex and erotic love. This restriction initially appears unwarranted but can be justified. There is reason for spouses to accept the norm of monogamy if their marriage satisfies three conditions.  Otherwise, there is reason to permit nonmonogamy.  Some spouses have reason to accept the norm of monogamy because this will avoid reasonable hurt and prevent diversion of resources needed to sustain the marriage. Other spouses have reason to permit nonmonogamy to allow the spouses access to aspects of a well-rounded life.  The choice to be either monogamous or nonmonogamous can also be noninstrumentally valuable if chosen for the right reasons.