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Why do humans prefer to mate in private?
Anecdotal evidence suggests that human beings generally prefer to mate in private—but why? And why is it so rare? Other than humans, only one other species has demonstrated a preference for privacy during mating: Arabian babblers. To learn more, [anthropologist Yitzchak] Ben Mocha retrieved data from 4,572 accounts of cultural studies—ethnographies—and studied them looking for what he describes as normal sexual practices. Those involved were not trying to shock or avoid punishment for engaging in taboo practices such as incest—and were also not in the pornography business. He found that virtually every known culture practices private mating—even in places where privacy is difficult to find. He also looked for examples of other animals mating in private, and found none, except for the babblers. He also found that there were no explanations for it, and in fact, there were very few other people wondering why humans have such a proclivity. And, not surprisingly, he was unable to find any evolutionary theories on the topic.
Journal Reference:
Yitzchak Ben Mocha. Why do human and non-human species conceal mating? The cooperation maintenance hypothesis, Proceedings of the Royal Society B (DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.1330)
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Rosco P. Coltrane on Thursday August 06 2020, @06:07PM (7 children)
People's approach to sex is heavily hobbled by cultural and ideological biases that are transmitted from generation to generation. Most taboos aren't inherited but acquired.
Indirect evidence of the weight of cultural norms can be seen in poorly educated people: most of them have an easier time having sex in semi-public places (backalleys, toilets, beach, elevators...) than those who have had an educated and/or heavily religious upbringing.
(Score: 3, Informative) by DannyB on Thursday August 06 2020, @06:21PM (5 children)
It could be cultural. But every known culture has the same bias toward private mating.
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(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 06 2020, @06:31PM
Avoids embarrassing laughter.
(Score: 2) by barbara hudson on Thursday August 06 2020, @07:09PM (2 children)
Remember the first time someone fooled you with a link to goat.se?
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(Score: 0, Disagree) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 06 2020, @07:40PM (1 child)
Goatse was just as meh as two girls one cup. Not very shocking or disgusting, just meh. Octopussy was pretty freaky though.
(Score: 1, Disagree) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 06 2020, @08:32PM
Hey now, Roger Moore's performance wasn't that bad.
(Score: 2) by Thexalon on Thursday August 06 2020, @08:53PM
Early visitors to Tahiti recorded sex as being a very public activity with people cheering on whoever was going at it. That, combined with a "free love" attitude probably had a lot to do with it becoming a very popular stop for sailing vessels.
And in allegedly-free countries like the US and Europe, there are substantial subcultures of swinging, orgies, BDSM munches, etc where people are regularly banging in front of friends, acquaintances, and total strangers. And public spaces fairly notorious for open sexual activity with local authorities looking the other way. Even in Iran, there is apparently a growing subculture of private orgies.
It's also not hard to find records of such things occurring historically. I even encountered a jaunty song about it when delving into folk music.
So yeah, I think culture and the fact that getting caught in the act can lead to people going to jail for a very long time has a lot to do with folks seeking privacy.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday August 06 2020, @07:17PM
Personally I want privacy because I don't trust the Russian judge to score me accurately.