Cuckolded Fathers Rare in Human Populations.

[PNGarrison]

Trends Ecol Evol. 2016 May;31(5):327-9. doi: 10.1016/j.tree.2016.03.004. Epub 2016 Apr 11.
Cuckolded Fathers Rare in Human Populations.
Larmuseau MH1, Matthijs K2, Wenseleers T3.
not open access
Abstract
Contemporary data of extra-pair paternity (EPP) in human populations may be biased by the use of modern contraceptives. Studies have now estimated historical EPP rates in several human populations. The observed low EPP rates challenge the idea that women routinely 'shop around' for good genes by engaging in extra-pair copulations.

[Dabney Carr]

I'll agree with that. Cuckoldry is far more widespread in recent times due to contraception giving women the ability to sleep around from a relatively early age without the consequences of getting pregnant. Then later if they get married, they don't have the same attachment and fidelity to their husbands when compared to women in the past who were more likely to be virgin brides and tended to be faithful to their husbands.

[dna]

A PDF of the published version is (now) available for free

https://bio.kuleuven.be/ento/pdfs/larmuseau_etal_tree_2016a.pdf

Mr W

P.S.
For every infidel woman, an infidel male is required...

[Frederator]

The term 'cuckold' may be rather over-used to describe a wide variety of normal situations that have nothing at all to do with marital infidelity, like the assumption of a step-father's surname or an informal adoption.

[Biblioteque]

And, in some cases, coercive persuasion.........

[ltd-jean-pull]

I'll agree with that. Cuckoldry is far more widespread in recent times due to contraception giving women the ability to sleep around from a relatively early age without the consequences of getting pregnant. Then later if they get married, they don't have the same attachment and fidelity to their husbands when compared to women in the past who were more likely to be virgin brides and tended to be faithful to their husbands.

I'm intrigued. What is your definition of "sleeping around"?

Were the men also "sleeping around" or were boys just being boys?

Apparently these days married couples don't only have sex for procreation and may use contraception!

Wouldn't the availability of contraception to married women reduce the likelihood of a pregnancy result from having sex with someone who isn't your recognised partner?

[Amerijoe]

Cuckolded Fathers Rare in Human Populations.

What about the perspective viewpoint of the offspring who is verbally and physically reminded of such a union. How rare do you think that is? A cockold husband can be a dangerous menace to the overall viability of such a union to all those involved. To anyone who has experienced such a situation may serenity comfort you always.

[Slithy Tove]

Yet again, scientific endeavour exploited my someone trying to present a view not supported by the data...

[PDHOTLEN]

Then there is the situation where a guy has been coerced into believing that a baby was his and so he married said devious woman. I'm wondering if that could be a possible scenario with my (doubtful?) maternal grandfather. Quite probably not, but that could explain where my mysterious Italian (7%) came from.

[loisrp]

Then there is the situation where a guy has been coerced into believing that a baby was his and so he married said devious woman. I'm wondering if that could be a possible scenario with my (doubtful?) maternal grandfather. Quite probably not, but that could explain where my mysterious Italian (7%) came from.

Do you have any 2nd or 3rd cousins that are unexplained to lead you to this possible conclusion?

[PDHOTLEN]

Do you have any 2nd or 3rd cousins that are unexplained to lead you to this possible conclusion?

I was just speculating. My mother was an only child. I mean, I come from a dysfunctional family where we all hated one another. Every time I asked my mother about our family tree she was cross and didn't answer. As for 2nd or 3rd cousins, there is one female line that seems to be related. That line married into Italian(s), at least at one point. Now that side were all Catholics. For some odd reason, my grandmother turned her husband into a Protestant. And that caused him to be treated cooly by his relatives. So I didn't meet them except only in passing. Lots of other things too...

[sspeters41]

NPE's

Out of wedlock births were a lot more common than most of you see to want to believe. Colonial days were no different. The reason I use Colonial is because I have not been able to go much beyond Colonial. You ain't who you think you are!! I think an unbroken line would be the rare exception that the rule, but then what do I know!!

[PDHOTLEN]

In my case (above), I found a marriage record online that shows my maternal grandparents married when she was 6 months pregnant. I assume hat record is correct, as seen at Ancestry. Anyway, it took place down in Rockford, Illinois. I mean they lived in Madison, Wisconsin. So it was probably a civil marriage. And it obviously was not in the Catholic church. So the Catholic relatives on his side would have regarded my mother as a bastard, I suppose. My family tree, based mostly on the Ancestry database, is quite full except for my maternal grandfather's branch. Also lacking proof is my direct maternal line prior to 1800 in early USA/colonies.

[spruithean]

Out of wedlock births were a lot more common than most of you see to want to believe. Colonial days were no different. The reason I use Colonial is because I have not been able to go much beyond Colonial. You ain't who you think you are!! I think an unbroken line would be the rare exception that the rule, but then what do I know!!

I think it depends on how far back we're going here. If we're going to the most distant ancestor you can confirm realistically by paper trail then an unbroken line isn't all that surprising and neither is a broken line. There are undoubtedly NPEs for many people with confirmed paper trails beyond where their paper trail ends.

There are a number of factors that can result in the perception of there being an NPE. From there actually being an NPE to the family tree not being properly researched.

[Wheal]

You have to remember that women were regarded as property in many cultures, so women were shared with no "assigned" mate. Women would also be considered as bounty from raids and kept as slaves. 'She' could have already been impregnated by a mate from her other clan and would bring that DNA into her new clan.

In addition, women were FREQUENTLY raped and impregnated by not only unrelated men, but by their family members.