Science
Related: About this forumOrigins of masturbation traced back to primates 40m years ago
Behaviour predates humans by tens of millions of years but evolutionary purpose is less clear, scientists say
Evolutionary biologists have traced the origins of masturbation to ancient primates that predate the first humans by tens of millions of years. The findings emerged from what scientists believe is the largest dataset ever compiled on the activity, and confirm that humans arose on a branch of the tree of life replete with self-pleasuring predecessors.
What we can say is this behaviour was present around 40m years ago, in the common ancestor of all monkeys and apes, said Dr Matilda Brindle, the lead researcher on the study at University College London. Its not that some species woke up one day and started doing it. This is an ancient, evolved trait. Brindle and her colleagues delved deep into the history of the behaviour in the hope of understanding the origins of what at first glance seems an evolutionary conundrum. From an evolutionary perspective, masturbation appears costly, distracting, wasteful, even risky.
To reconstruct the history of the act, the scientists pulled together hundreds of publications, questionnaire responses and personal notes about masturbating primates from primatologists and zoo keepers. They then mapped the information on to primate evolutionary trees, revealing how the activity reached back through time. Writing in Proceedings of the Royal Society B, the team describes how masturbation appeared common across primates of all sexes and ages. But why it evolved more than 40m years ago is less clear. Historically, biological studies have neglected females, giving the authors little good data to go on. For males, however, there are at least hints.
The scientists analyses found support for the idea that male masturbation boosted the chances of impregnating a mate. For example, a low-ranking male may masturbate just enough to increase their arousal before sex, meaning they inseminate their partner faster and before a burly competitor has the chance to knock them off and spoil the fun. Masturbation could also help males to shed old sperm, leaving them with fresher, more competitive sperm for sex.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jun/07/origins-masturbation-traced-back-primates-40m-years-ago
Laffy Kat
(16,515 posts)Chainfire
(17,757 posts)Ocelot II
(120,379 posts)Sneederbunk
(15,031 posts)Hugh_Lebowski
(33,643 posts)it could also be a way that social harmony was kept. There can only be one or two alpha males in a pack, and they defend their harems. Having a certain % of the males engage in self-pleasure instead of fighting for mates is probably overall a positive development for their society. As would be male/male lifelong romantic partnerships.
Males fighting is also "costly, distracting, wasteful, even risky." in a manner of speaking, though also important genetically insofar as the most fit males get to breed which helps the pack in the long run.
Sancho
(9,097 posts)dweller
(24,878 posts)Thank you, you naughty little monkey
🫤
✌🏻
3Hotdogs
(13,343 posts)a note of appreciation.
Bayard
(24,145 posts)How can it be proved happening 40M years ago, because a group of scientists think so?
milestogo
(17,517 posts)intrepidity
(7,854 posts)I guess this is the answer:
milestogo
(17,517 posts)intrepidity
(7,854 posts)Girard442
(6,387 posts)intrepidity
(7,854 posts)I guess I'd be more curious about species that *don't* and why that would be?
ETA: nevermind, after thinking for a minute, I guess I can see how it might not survive intense selection pressure, lol, doh.
milestogo
(17,517 posts)Might not be a good job skill, but you would be very interesting at cocktail parties.