An Evolutionary Explanation of the Madonna-Whore Complex

Authors

Steven Hertler
- Affiliated with Saint Elizabeth University, Morristown, NJ, USA
Mateo Peraherrera-Aguirre
- Affiliated with University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
Aurelio Jos Figueredo
- Affiliated with University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

Madonna-Whore Complex:
- A psychological concept where males categorize females as either chaste Madonnas or promiscuous whores.
- Rooted in male psychology and influences female sexuality.
Theoretical Perspectives:
- Freudian: A form of sexual dissociation.
- Feminist: Stemming from power imbalances.
- Postmodern: A Western cultural artifact of patriarchal oppression.
Evolutionary Perspective:
- Viewed as an evolved psychological trait due to paternal uncertainty.
- Links to male mating strategies (short- and long-term).
- Considered in terms of biological underpinnings of sexual conflict.

Paternal Uncertainty:
- Drives the development of the Madonna-Whore complex.
- Forces males into different mating strategies to cope with the risk of cuckoldry.
Sexual Conflict:
- Seen as mutual conflict rather than one-sided oppression.
- Females engaging in extra-pair copulations threaten males.
- Understanding this as a natural extension of human mating interests.

Religious and Cultural Implications:
- The theological doctrine has historically promoted the dichotomization of female sexuality.
References:
- Various scholarly articles and books are cited to support the argument.
Related Theories:
- Concepts of sociosexuality and evolutionary psychology are discussed.

The Madonna-Whore complex, when viewed through an evolutionary lens, provides insights into male-female dynamics.
It highlights the evolutionary pressures and conflicts that shape human mating behaviors and strategies.
Moves the discussion from cultural to biological understandings of human sexual behavior.

Ethics Approval: Not applicable
Consent to Participate: Not applicable
Consent for Publication: Jointly granted
Conflict of Interest: None declared
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Madonna-Whore Complex, Evolutionary Psychology, Sexual Conflict, Paternal Uncertainty, Mating Strategies

Hertler, S., Peraherrera-Aguirre, M. & Figueredo, A.J. An Evolutionary Explanation of the Madonna-Whore Complex. Evolutionary Psychological Science 9, 372-384 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-023-00364-1

Published: September 2023