Does the following trait(s) best characterize: humans, chimpanzees, or both (humans and chimpanzees)?

Greater female promiscuity

Question

Does the following trait(s) best characterize: humans, chimpanzees, or both (humans and chimpanzees)?

Greater female promiscuity

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks us to categorize the trait of greater female promiscuity across humans, chimpanzees, or both.
Option 1: Humans. In many human populations, female promiscuity is present but typically modest compared to chimpanzee patterns, and there is strong cultural influence on mating behavior. Biologically, human mating systems are complex and can involve long-term pair bonds as well as short-term mating strategies, but the general expectation of very high female promiscuity is not as pronounced as in some other primates. This makes the statement less fitting as a universal trait for humans.
Option 2: Chimpanzees. Among chimpanzees, female promiscuity is relatively high compared to many other primates. Females may mate with multiple males within a cycle, and males often compete for fertilization opportunities. This behavior contributes to complex social dynamics and genetic diversity within groups, making the description of greater female promiscuity a more accurate characterization for chimpanzees.
Option 3: Both. While there is variation among human populations and societies, and some degree of sexual behavior that includes multiple partners can occur, the general emphasis on high female promiscuity is not a universal feature of humans in the same sense as observed in chimpanzees. Therefore labeling both as equally characterized by greater female promiscuity would overstate the pattern for humans.
Overall, the reasoning hinges on comparative primate mating systems: chimpanzees show relatively higher female promiscuity compared to humans, whose patterns are more heterogeneous and strongly shaped by cultural norms. This makes the trait more characteristic of chimpanzees than of humans, and not a universal trait shared by both.

ANTH 1050-090 Fall 2025 ANTH 1050-090 Exam 1

Does the following trait(s) best characterize: humans, chimpanzees, or both (humans and chimpanzees)? Greater female promiscuity

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