Sociosexually unrestricted parents have more sons: A further application of the generalized Trivers-Willard hypothesis (gTWH)

Background: The generalized Trivers–Willard hypothesis (gTWH) proposes that parents who possess any heritable trait which increases male reproductive success at a greater rate than female reproductive success in a given environment will have a higher-than-expected offspring sex ratio, and parents who possess any heritable trait which increases the female reproductive success at a greater rate than male reproductive success in a given environment will have a lower-than-expected offspring sex ratio. Aim: One heritable trait which increases the reproductive success of sons much more than that of daughters is unrestricted sociosexual orientation. We therefore predict that parents with unrestricted sociosexual orientation (measured by the number of sexual partners, frequency of sex, and attitudes toward relationship commitment and sexual exclusivity) have a higher-than-expected offspring sex ratio (more sons). Subjects and method: We analyse the US General Social Surveys and the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), both with large nationally representative samples. Results: Our analyses support the prediction from the gTWH. Conclusion: One standard deviation increase in unrestrictedness of sociosexual orientation increases the odds of having a son by 12–19% in the representative American samples.