Child care Quote by Christopher Ryan
““We’ll show that human beings evolved in intimate groups where almost everything was shared—food, shelter, protection, child care, even sexual pleasure. We don’t argue that humans are natural-born Marxist hippies. Nor do we hold that romantic love was unknown or unimportant in prehistoric communities. But we’ll demonstrate that contemporary culture misrepresents the link between love and sex. With and without love, a casual sexuality was the norm for our prehistoric ancestors.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Sex at Dawn, Christopher Ryan & Cacilda Jethá, 2010
Humans historically lived in sharing, cooperative groups where casual sex was common and love was not tied to monogamy.
In simple terms: Prehistoric humans had shared resources and casual sex.
Key Takeaway
Recognize that modern norms differ from ancestral behavior.
Themes
evolution
sexuality
social structures
Mood
thoughtful
analytical
Type
informational
controversial
When to use this quote
- relationship counseling
- sex education
- media analysis
- anthropology research
Key Concepts
anthropology
cooperation
mating systems
Questions to Reflect On
- How does this perspective change your view on monogamy?
- What implications does this have for contemporary sexual ethics?
A Different Perspective
Modern cultural expectations may conflict with evolutionary evidence.
![“[Man] has imagined a heaven, and has left entirely out of it the supremest of all his delights, the one ecstasy that stands first and foremost in the heart of every individual of his race…sexual intercourse! It is as if a lost and perishing person in a roasting desert should be told by a rescuer…” quote by Christopher Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/939/christopher-ryan-4309_joy_man-has-imagined-a-heaven-and-has-left-e_187069.jpg)
