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Weak Negative Selection Pressures on Same-Sex Attraction Across Time

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The Evolution of Same-Sex Attraction

Abstract

In the current chapter, I will examine the existence of the different factors, which weakened negative selection on same-sex attraction in different periods of human evolution. I will argue that most of the factors discussed above, were present during most of human evolutionary time, suggesting that same-sex attraction should had been present in relatively high prevalence throughout human evolution. However, there are reasons to believe that factors such as regulation of mating and male-male competition, have strengthened in the later period of human evolution when our ancestors lived as farmers and animal herders. Accordingly, the prevalence of same-sex attraction increased during this period. The prevalence rates of same-sex attraction we observe today predominantly reflect the selection pressures during this period.

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Apostolou, M. (2020). Weak Negative Selection Pressures on Same-Sex Attraction Across Time. In: The Evolution of Same-Sex Attraction. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53925-2_11

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