SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
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: 3, Informative) by Immerman on Thursday August 06 2020, @10:37PM (4 children)
Heh. The danger in knowing a little bit about everything...
Can I assume then that you don't include biology along with particle physics, relativity, etc, etc, etc. in your list of generally interesting things to learn about? I'll refrain from informing you of the mating habits of bedbugs, and why it makes them so incredibly difficult to eliminate. You don't need those nightmares.
(Score: 2) by Opportunist on Friday August 07 2020, @05:46AM (3 children)
Dude. Joking.
I'm enough of a reservoir of useless facts that people refuse to play Trivial Pursuit with me. And I appreciate not having to learn about the mating habits of bedbugs, though I do have the urge now to use google to find out...
(Score: 2) by Immerman on Friday August 07 2020, @12:35PM (2 children)
I figured. I guess my own humor didn't come through.
Bedbugs are actually kind of interesting, mostly the stuff of nightmares if you're a female bedbug, or are trying to eliminate (or actively avoid) an infestation.
(Score: 2) by Opportunist on Friday August 07 2020, @04:06PM (1 child)
Is there a chance you might stop? I'm kinda entomophobic.
(Score: 4, Informative) by Immerman on Friday August 07 2020, @06:28PM
No more details, I promise. At least here - if you see me post in a pest-related conversation you may want to scroll on past.
But because I'm evil I'll just mention that house centipedes are the number one best insect control you could hope for - shy, completely harmless to humans, and voracious hunters of pretty much every kind of bug you wouldn't want in your house.
Bye };-)