Humans as a model species for sexual selection research.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Narrative review and theoretical discussion without empirical data or systematic review methodology (graded by non-clinical design analogy).
PubMed 29118131 · doi:10.1098/rspb.2017.1320
What was done
This narrative review synthesized evolutionary concepts and comparative literature examining the utility of humans as a model species for sexual selection research, evaluating advantages, limitations, biological dimorphism, and cultural factors.
What was found
The abstract provides no quantitative data or statistical comparisons. It reports conceptually that humans present conflicting traits (pair-bonding and biparental care alongside sexual dimorphism in body composition and appearance), with recent visual trait dimorphism findings suggesting adaptations for multi-level societies rather than extreme polygyny.
Why it matters
It highlights how human behavioral, ecological, and cultural variability can be leveraged alongside comparative biology to test sexual selection hypotheses and understand human evolutionary history.
Limits
The paper is a qualitative review without empirical data, statistical testing, or systematic search methodology. Human sexual selection research faces inherent constraints, including slow reproduction rates, ethical prohibitions against experimental manipulation, and confounding from rapid cultural evolution.
Cited by
- supports Fully monogamous animals like prairie voles exhibit virtually no male-female body size dimorphism, while harem-based species like gorillas exhibit large size differences between males and females.