The Bateman Principle

The Bateman Principle suggests that in many species, males tend to compete for access to females, since their reproductive success often depends on the number of mates they acquire. Conversely, females typically invest more resources in raising offspring, making their reproductive success more linked to the quality rather than the quantity of mates. This difference leads to males often competing more intensely for females, while females become more selective. The principle helps explain typical patterns in animal and human behavior related to mating strategies and reproductive roles, emphasizing biological influences on these behaviors.