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... in other primate species, dominance displays often have sexual overtones ... happens
in humans just as it does in other ... It is the cause of homosexual rape in prisons ...
Submitted by katie09 on October 23, 2005
Category: Psychology
Words: 2899 | Pages: 12
Views: 268
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Abstract
Within the last thirty years, feminist theories investigaing the determinants of human behaviour have been challenged by the controversial development of evolutionary biology. Evolutionary biologists have proposed that human rape evolved as either an adaptive trait or a by-product of natural selection whereas feminist theories view rape as an symptom of societies' patriarchal heritage. This essay provides a comparison of evolutionary and feminist perspectives on rape and critiques Thornhill and Palmers thesis by discussing their flawed methodologies, non-representative sample populations and lack of supportive evidence to defend their theory. A biosocial theory of rape which considers the implications of male sex hormones on behaviour whilst retaining certain elements from other rape theories, is proposed as a superior alternative to evolutionary biology explanations of rape.
Does rape have an evolutionary basis?
Within the last thirty years, a notable schism has developed between feminist and evolutionary theories pertaining to the determinants of human behaviour (Archer & Vaughan, 2001; Brown, 2000; Ellis, 1991; Palmer, 1991; Shields & Shields, 1983; Thornhill & Palmer, 2000; Vega, 2001). The disparity has become acute with the burgeoning evolutionary explanations of the basis of human rape (Archer & Vaughan, 2001; Palmer, 1991, 1992; Vega, 2001). Evolutionary theories propose that males have an innate reproductive tendency to breed with many females and in certain circumstances; rape may serve as a copulatory mechanism (Archer & Vaughan, 2001; Ellis, 1991; Thornhill & Palmer, 2000). Evolutionary theories such as those summarised by Thornhill and Palmers (2000), propose that rape is either an adaptive trait or a by-product of natural selection whereas feminist theories view rape as an symptom of societies' patriarchal heritage illustrated as an act of dominance and control (Ellis, 1991; Shields &...
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