mate guarding

a method of preventing a mate from reproducing with others. In nonhuman animals, a male stays close to its mate immediately after copulation and prevents other males from approaching or mating with the female until such time as additional mating will not result in fertilization. In some cases, a copulatory lock literally keeps mates connected for several minutes or hours. See also mate poaching; sperm competition.

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Psychology term of the day

March 12th 2025

fate control

the circumstance in which a person or group has absolute control over the fate or outcomes of another person or group. Fate control exists when the other’s behavior plays no role in determining what outcomes are to be received. This is in contrast to behavior control, in which the other’s behavior does affect outcomes and the other is induced to behave in the desired direction. Fate control can, under certain circumstances, induce learned helplessness. [introduced by Harold H. Kelley and John W. Thibaut in their interdependence theory]