Synonyms
Definition
The inability of members of a species to detect the physiological state in which the females are capable of reproduction.
Introduction
A number of different species such as chimpanzees, rats, and gorillas display behavioral, physiological, or morphological cues that signal female fertility to male members of the species. These overt expressions of fertility are a form of honest signaling, which is observed among many species. Honest signaling is when individuals display their true qualities as a mate. However, not all species signal their reproductive status to potential mates. Instead, some species conceal their fertility status. Until fairly recently, it was believed that such was the case with human females. While humans generally cannot detect ovulation on a conscious level, a number of researchers have studied the effects of ovulation on male and female behavior. The findings of these studies...
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References
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Smith, L., Rolon, V. (2018). Concealed Ovulation and Pregnancy. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3628-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_3628-1
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