Abstract
The operational sex ratio (i.e., the ratio of reproductive-age females to males in a population) shapes both animal and human behavior in important ways. Drawing on research in evolution and ecology, the author proposes that a local male-skewed sex ratio (i.e., a surplus of males) influences local men’s attitudes toward sex tourism. Analyzing historical field (study 1) and experimental data (study 2), the author demonstrates that male-skewed sex ratios increase men’s sex tourism rationalization and intent, while women’s predispositions are not sensitive to sex ratios. Sex tourism is explained as a subconscious ecological plasticity in response to perceived increased intensities of same-sex competition for mates, signaled by male-skewed sex ratios. The findings demonstrate a link between mating ecologies and sex tourism, with the latter serving as a compensatory behavior of same-sex mating competition. This research contributes a novel, biological perspective on sex tourism with implications for future research and practice.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of Travel Research |
Volume | 60 |
Issue number | 6 |
Pages (from-to) | 1252-1264 |
Number of pages | 13 |
ISSN | 0047-2875 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jul 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Published online: 11. August 2020Keywords
- Behavioral ecology
- Evolutionary psychology
- Human mating
- Sex ratio
- Sex tourism