Abstract
Whether women’s orgasm is an adaptation is arguably the most contentious question in the study of the evolution of human sexuality.
Indeed, this question is a veritable litmus test for adaptationism, separating those profoundly impressed with the pervasive
and myriad correspondences between organisms’ phenotypes and their conditions of life from those who apply the “onerous concept”
of adaptation with more caution, skepticism or suspicion. Yet, the adaptedness of female orgasm is a question whose answer
will elucidate mating dynamics in humans and nonhuman primates. There are two broad competing explanations for the evolution
of orgasm in women: (1) the mate-choice hypothesis, which states that female orgasm has evolved to function in mate selection
and (2) the byproduct hypothesis, which states that female orgasm has no evolutionary function, existing only because women
share some early ontogeny with men, in whom orgasm is an adaptation. We review evidence for these hypotheses and identify
areas where relevant evidence is lacking. Although additional research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn, we
find that the mate-choice hypothesis receives more support. Specifically, female orgasm appears to have evolved to increase
the probability of fertilization from males whose genes would improve offspring fitness.
Indeed, this question is a veritable litmus test for adaptationism, separating those profoundly impressed with the pervasive
and myriad correspondences between organisms’ phenotypes and their conditions of life from those who apply the “onerous concept”
of adaptation with more caution, skepticism or suspicion. Yet, the adaptedness of female orgasm is a question whose answer
will elucidate mating dynamics in humans and nonhuman primates. There are two broad competing explanations for the evolution
of orgasm in women: (1) the mate-choice hypothesis, which states that female orgasm has evolved to function in mate selection
and (2) the byproduct hypothesis, which states that female orgasm has no evolutionary function, existing only because women
share some early ontogeny with men, in whom orgasm is an adaptation. We review evidence for these hypotheses and identify
areas where relevant evidence is lacking. Although additional research is needed before firm conclusions can be drawn, we
find that the mate-choice hypothesis receives more support. Specifically, female orgasm appears to have evolved to increase
the probability of fertilization from males whose genes would improve offspring fitness.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-17
- DOI 10.1007/s10508-012-9967-x
- Authors
- David A. Puts, Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Khytam Dawood, Department of Psychology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
- Lisa L. M. Welling, Department of Anthropology, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
- Journal Archives of Sexual Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-2800
- Print ISSN 0004-0002