Sexual Coercion

Abstract

Sexual coercion is the use by a male of force, or threat of force, to secure a mating with a female, decreasing her chances of mating with other males and inflicting a cost on the female. It is a third type of sexual selection and falls under sexual conflict theory. Three forms of sexual coercion are recognized. Direct coercion includes forced copulation, harassment, and intimidation. Indirect coercion involves coercive mate guarding, herding, punishment, and sequestration. Infanticide is considered sexual coercion when it is committed by a male on a nursing infant, bringing the mother back into estrus sooner, and increasing the likelihood that the infanticidal male will father her next offspring. Sexual coercion is most prevalent in Old World monkeys and apes. It is commonly directed at estrous females, but non‐estrous females may receive conditioning aggression, increasing the probability that she will mate with the aggressor male in the future.