A recent study from Washington State University has challenged the long-held assumption that men with greater physical strength are more likely to compete for mates. The research, published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior, found that both men and women who have greater upper body strength report having more lifetime sexual partners than their peers.
The study analyzed data on 4,316 US adults from 2013-2014 and used grip strength as a measure of upper body strength. Contrary to expectations, the findings suggested that stronger individuals – regardless of sex – had more lifetime sexual partners. This challenges the traditional theory that men’s physical strength is linked to their ability to compete for mates.
On the other hand, the study did find evidence supporting another evolutionary theory known as “provisioning.” Stronger men were more likely to be in long-term relationships and provide support to their partners, which could have been an advantage for women during times of pregnancy and lactation when they required additional care and resources.
However, the researchers noted that the link between women’s strength and partner count remains unclear, with potential explanations including assortative mating or reduced dependency on male support. Further research is needed to uncover the reasons behind this connection.
Lead author Caroline Smith stated, “People have assumptions about men’s sexual behavior and how that’s related to evolution… It’s essential to continually test our theories by expanding our research questions to include women.”
The study’s findings suggest that human evolution may be more complex than previously thought, with multiple factors influencing reproductive success. As Smith noted, more studies involving women are necessary to uncover the underlying mechanisms driving this connection.
Ultimately, this research highlights the importance of considering both men’s and women’s physical strength in understanding human behavior and evolutionary theory.
Source: https://neurosciencenews.com/body-strength-sexual-partner-psychology-28366