ABSTRACT
Are close, relatively enduring relationships fundamental to human beings? In this work, biological and psychological evidence is presented that suggests the intriguing possibility that our current biological design—rooted in our Pleistocene gatherer–hunter roots—strongly favors relatively enduring relationships and few sex differences in mating strategies. Furthermore, this biological design appears to dovetail with the attachment system (Bowlby, 1969/1982), a system with roots in our primate past. The adaptations of humans to their physical environments, it will be argued, interfaced with adaptations to their social environments (Caporael, 1994) to enhance both maternal and paternal infant–caregiver emotional bonding and adult pair-bonding. Because human infants were exceptionally dependent primates (Fisher, 1987, 1989), the involvement of paternal as well as maternal caregivers was critical for offspring survival. As they are today, high levels of paternal involvement would be expected to be associated with close, relatively enduring pair-bonds (Draper & Harpending, 1988). Design features supporting these systems (e.g., caregiving, attachment, pair-bonding) and their interfaces are consistent with Bowlby’s (1969/1982) evolutionary ethological position. Consistent with Bowlby, we would argue that all humans born today share this evolutionary heritage, as well as the latent design features that support caregiving, attachment, and adult pair-bonding. Thus, we argue for universal design mechanisms influencing mating strategies.
