Which of the following scenarios would be conducive to an extra-pair mating in females?
a. discovering that their partner had cheated
b. having a partner who was unwilling to engage in sexual activity
c. having a partner who inflicted abuse
d. all of the response alternatives are correct
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is: d. all of the response alternatives are correct
Explanation:
Extra-pair mating refers to a situation where an individual, typically a female in this context, engages in mating outside of their primary pair bond or committed relationship. Various factors can encourage females to seek extra-pair matings, often related to dissatisfaction or problems within their primary partnership.
Firstly, discovering that a partner has cheated (option a) can lead a female to seek extra-pair mating as a form of retaliation or to ensure better genetic quality for offspring. When trust is broken, females may look for alternative mates to improve their reproductive success or to gain resources from other males.
Secondly, having a partner who is unwilling to engage in sexual activity (option b) can increase the likelihood of extra-pair mating. If the primary partner is sexually unavailable or uninterested, females may seek sexual satisfaction and reproductive opportunities outside the relationship.
Thirdly, having a partner who inflicts abuse (option c) can also promote extra-pair mating. Abuse creates an unsafe and hostile environment, which can motivate females to seek alternative partners who might provide better protection, resources, or genetic benefits.
Therefore, all these situations—partner infidelity, sexual unavailability, and abuse—can independently or together make extra-pair mating more likely. This behavior can be understood from an evolutionary perspective where females maximize their reproductive success by securing good genes, resources, or better conditions for themselves and their offspring when the primary partnership is compromised.
In conclusion, all the listed conditions are conducive to extra-pair mating in females, making option d the correct choice.