THE NUBILITY HYPOTHESIS - THE HUMAN BREAST AS AN HONEST SIGNAL OF RESIDUAL REPRODUCTIVE VALUE

A new hypothesis is proposed to explain the perennially enlarged breas ts of human females. The nubility hypothesis proposes that hominid fem ales evolved protruding breasts because the size and shape of breasts function as an honest signal of residual reproductive value. Hominid f emales with greater residual reproductive value were preferred by male s once reliable cues to ovulation were lost and long-term bonding evol ved. This adaptation was favored because female-female competition for investing males increased once hominid males began to provide valuabl e resources.