Cuckolded fathers are rare in human populations, according to a study by Larmuseau et al.
The incidence of cuckoldry, where a woman conceives a child with a man other than her primary partner, is indeed relatively uncommon in human populations.
Larmuseau et al.'s study provides insights into this aspect of human behavior.
Research suggests that while cuckoldry occurs, it is not pervasive in most societies.
Studies examining paternity uncertainty have shown that instances of cuckoldry generally fall within a relatively low frequency range across diverse human populations.
While estimates vary, research often suggests that the rates of cuckolded fathers range from around 1% to 4%.
These figures imply that in the majority of cases, the presumed fathers are indeed the biological fathers of the children in their care.
The relatively low occurrence of cuckoldry in human populations has been attributed to various factors.
Evolutionarily, men and women might have developed strategies to minimize instances of cuckoldry, including mating strategies, social norms, and cultural practices.
Furthermore, the stability and investment within committed relationships might act as deterrents against engaging in extrapair mating.
Larmuseau et al.'s study, among others, contributes to our understanding of human reproductive behavior and the complex dynamics surrounding paternity certainty.
Despite occasional instances of cuckoldry, the research highlights that within most human societies, the majority of children are biologically related to their presumed fathers.