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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 July 2022
Females are disproportionately affected by intimate partner abuse that can result in severe physical and mental harm. Benenson et al. provide little exploration of how female-evolved traits enhance females' survival in abusive relationships. Discussion centres on “why” females do not “just leave” an abusive relationship and the effectiveness of female-evolved traits in navigating intimate partner abuse over time.
Target article
Self-protection as an adaptive female strategy
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Author response
Females undergo selection too