Sex Differences in Post-Coital Behaviors in Long- and Short-Term Mating: An Evolutionary Perspective (Report‪)‬

The vast majority of literature in evolutionary psychology regarding reproductive strategies in humans has focused on adaptive behaviors ultimately leading to copulation, such as mate selection, courting, and sexual activities prior to full sexual intercourse (i.e., foreplay). However, reproductive strategies may not cease with intercourse; they may also influence specific behaviors directly following sex. Immediately following sexual intercourse, individuals have to contend with several issues related to reproduction, such as pair-bonding, continued sexual activities with that partner, future relationship intentions with that partner, sperm retention and competition (for reviews, see Baker, 1996; Gallup & Burch, 2006), mate guarding, and the possibility of fertilization. We propose that these post-coital considerations are experienced quite differently by males and females due to divergent adaptive reproductive strategies of each sex, and are reflected in immediate post-coital activities and preferences. According to Buss and Schmitt's (1993) Sexual Strategies Theory, men and women have evolved reproductive strategies that can involve both long-term and short-term mating; however, men and women benefit differentially from practicing such strategies. Males tend to mate more opportunistically due to their lesser parental investment and greater reproductive potential compared to females (Trivers, 1972). Therefore, men can achieve greater reproductive benefits than women by engaging in short-term mating to increase their overall number of sexual partners. On the other hand, men who engage in long-term mating can benefit from enhanced paternal certainty (by means of greater mate guarding), increased offspring survival through greater bi-parental care, and increased odds of obtaining a more desirable mate because high mate-value females will usually not consent without signs of male commitment (Buss & Schmitt, 1993).