Patterns of paternal investment predict cross-cultural variation in jealous response

Nature Human Behavior • Vol/Iss. . • Nature Human Behavior • • Published In • Pages: 1-10 •
By Scelza, B. A., Prall, S. P., Blumenfield, T.

Abstract

In an effort to better understand variation in jealous response cross-culturally, the researchers of this study surveyed 11 different populations, eight of which were small-scale societies on five different continents (Mayangna, Shuar, Tsimane, Himba, Hadza, Karo Batak, Mosuo, and Yasawa) and three of which were in urban settings (Los Angeles, CA, "urban India" (online), and Okinawa, Japan). Looking at the differences between sexual and emotional infidelity, researchers found that greater paternal investment and lower frequency of extramarital sex are associated with more severe jealous response.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
2-part survey across 11 populationsResearcher Coded

Hypotheses (6)

HypothesisSupported
Overall, sexual infidelity, regardless of the sex of the unfaithful agent, is viewed more harshly than emotional infidelity.Supported
Increased levels of paternal provisioning were associated with harsher views of male, but not female sexual infidelity .Supported
Increased levels of paternal investment and provisioning were associated with harsher views of male, but not female emotional infidelity .Supported
Populations where extramarital sex was more common tended to rate male and female sexual infidelity less severely.Supported
Populations where extramarital sex was more common tended to rate male and female emotional infidelity less severely.Supported
Adult sex ratio (ASR) is negatively correlated with the level of extramarital sex across populations.Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: abbe.mccarter  anj.droe