The Origin of Patriarchal Moral System: An Evolutionary Model

Abstract

This article proposes an evolutionary-materialist model for the origin of the patriarchal moral system — a set of normative prohibitions restricting divorce, female sexuality, and freedom of mate choice. The model takes as its starting point the reproductive strategy of male provisioning — the exchange of male‑provided resources for female reproductive access — shaped by sexual selection. It is shown that the transition from foraging to civilization generates three demographic problems that make this strategy unstable: (a) increased population density facilitating partner switching, (b) awareness of the causal link between intercourse and childbirth reducing female motivation for sex, and (c) dissociation between the timing of sexual and social maturity in males. The normative solution to each of these problems—and their combination as a patriarchal moral system—is proposed to be understood as an adaptation to new demographic conditions. The model explains the convergent emergence of similar prohibitions across different cultures and the specific role of older males in enforcing them. The article is theoretical in nature and can serve as a foundation for further empirical research.