The comparative biopsychology of non-conceptive sexuality

生殖性行为是推动进化的引擎。因此，进化研究最基本的原则之一是，个体应该以最大限度地提高其繁殖成功率的方式行事。然而，非受孕性行为在动物界很普遍。既然这种相互作用乍一看似乎会破坏繁殖，为什么生物体会从事非受孕性行为呢？我的比较生物心理学研究项目通过研究同性性行为的发展和演变来解决这个问题。我使用跨物种（如日本猕猴）和跨文化（如萨摩亚）的方法来做到这一点。我对日本猕猴的研究重点是阐明雌性雌性和雌性雄性交配是如何以及为什么进化的。我在萨摩亚的工作重点是测试各种理论，这些理论旨在解释为什么男性同性恋基因没有灭绝。在大多数物种中，雄性主要被雌性吸引，而雌性主要被雄性吸引。这可能是有性繁殖物种中最大和最普遍的心理性别差异。我的比较研究意义重大，因为它有助于阐明这种基本模式例外的心理生物学基础。通过关注规则的例外情况，我的研究有助于更全面地了解性模式是如何在物种和文化之间发展和进化的。

Reproductive sex is the engine that drives evolution. As such, one of the most basic tenets of evolutionary research is that individuals should behave in ways to maximize their reproductive success. Nevertheless, non-conceptive sex is widespread in the animal kingdom. Why would organisms engage in non-conceptive sexual behaviours given that such interactions appear, at first glance, to undermine reproduction? My program of comparative biopsychological research addresses this question by examining how same-sex sexuality develops and evolves. I do so using cross-species (i.e., Japanese macaques) and cross-cultural (i.e., Samoan) approaches. My work on Japanese macaques focuses on elucidating how and why female-female and female-male mounting evolved. My work in Samoa focuses on testing various theories that purport to account for why genes for male homosexuality do not go extinct. In most species, males are primarily attracted to females, and females are primarily attracted to males. This is perhaps the largest and most widespread of any psychological sex difference in sexually reproducing species. My comparative research is significant because it helps elucidate the psychobiological bases of exceptions to this fundamental pattern. By focusing on exceptions to the rule, my research contributes towards a more comprehensive picture of how patterns of sexuality develop and evolve across species and cultures.