Baboon Study Shows Sexual Bullying May Lie Deep in Our DNA – NBCNews.com

A female baboon presents to a male, a form of sexual solicitation. Alice Baniel

Why does it matter? If such behavior is found in humanity's closest relatives the chimpanzees and other social primates, it suggests roots deep in evolutionary history, as opposed to behavior that has arisen recently.

"Because sexual intimidation where aggression and matings are not clustered in time is discreet, it may easily go unnoticed," Baniel said.

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"It may therefore be more common than previously appreciated in mammalian societies, and constrain female sexuality even in some species where they seem to enjoy relative freedom."

There's another factor size. The behavior may be more common in species whose males are markedly bigger than females, such as chimpanzees, baboons and humans.

Humanity's other close relative, the bonobo, doesn't have this sexual size difference, and bonobos are notoriously egalitarian when it comes to sex.

"This study adds to growing evidence that males use coercive tactics to constrain female mating decisions in promiscuous primates," Baniel said.

"Such behavior, previously reported only in chimpanzees, may therefore occur in a wider range of primates, strengthening the case for an evolutionary origin of human sexual intimidation," Baniel's team concluded.

Baniel plans to study the two troupes further. She's hoping at least some of the females stand up for better relationships.

"I would like to understand if several mating strategies could coexist among males, i.e., being chosen by females versus intimidating them," she said.

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Baboon Study Shows Sexual Bullying May Lie Deep in Our DNA - NBCNews.com