Sexual Arousal by Higher- and Lower-Ranking Partner: Manifestation of a Mating Strategy?
Eva Jozifkova PhD,
Martin Konvicka PhD,
Corresponding Author
Eva Jozifkova PhD
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, J.E. Purkinje University, Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic;
Eva Jozifkova, PhD, Biology, J.E. Purkyne University, Za valcovnou 1000/8, Predlice, Usti nad labem, 400 96, Czech Republic. Tel: +420607682138; Fax: +420-475-283-622; E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorMartin Konvicka PhD
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
Search for more papers by this authorEva Jozifkova PhD,
Martin Konvicka PhD,
Corresponding Author
Eva Jozifkova PhD
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, J.E. Purkinje University, Usti nad Labem, Czech Republic;
Eva Jozifkova, PhD, Biology, J.E. Purkyne University, Za valcovnou 1000/8, Predlice, Usti nad labem, 400 96, Czech Republic. Tel: +420607682138; Fax: +420-475-283-622; E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorMartin Konvicka PhD
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic
Search for more papers by this authorABSTRACT
Background. High hierarchical status is associated with increased reproduction success in mammals. However the subordinate males are not totally eliminated from reproduction due to mate choice and alternative male strategies. Thus; the sexual arousal by higher-ranking or lower-ranking partner in humans may represent a proximate mechanism for realizing a reproductive strategy.
Aim. To evaluate possible connection between mating strategy and sexual arousal by lower-ranking and higher-ranking partner.
Materials and Methods. Markers of possible reproductive success (the number and gender of relatives and self-reported attractiveness) were evaluated by questionnaire-based study on students (110 men and 195 women, aged 19 to 29, mean age 22.5 ± 2.10SD).
Main Outcome Measure. The correlation between markers of reproductive success and the sexual arousal by lower- and higher-ranking partner.
Results. Arousal by lower-ranking partner correlated positively with proportion of males in relatives (Spearman's r, males: 0.219*; females: 0.161*) and with self-reported attractiveness (males: r = 0.223*); arousal by higher-ranking partner correlated positively with self-attractiveness (females: r = 0.191*).
Discussion. We found markers of reproductive success despite of reduced number of offspring in nowadays population.
Conclusion. The sexual arousal by lower- and/or higher-ranking partner appears to be a manifestation of a successful reproductive strategy, e.g. behavior connected to natural human behavior. Moreover, the sexual arousal by overemphasized hierarchy (e.g. dominant-slave play) considered to be a part of sadomasochistic sex (or so called BDSM) may represent an overemphasised manifestation of this reproductive strategy. *P < 0.05. Jozifkova E, and Konvicka M. Sexual arousal by higher- and lower-ranking partner: Manifestation of a mating strategy? J Sex Med 2009;6:3327–3334.
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