Rape was legislated as a crime in ancient societies too. Both rape and sanctions against rape are human universals.

Not everything that works is the only thing that works so there is no reason for it to take over. But it *does* work and it *is* a human trait. No need to

All battered women, I would think, *want* to leave. Nonetheless, unfortunately, most of them stay. Learned helplessness, say the psychologists. Certainly, say the evolutionary psychologists, just as it's easier to acquire a phobia of snakes than of butterflies, it's easier to learn some things than others. Preparedness, it's called.

Doesn't excuse anybody *choosing* the *behavior* of rape. Never said it did. But it *does* show why all modern societies *need* safe shelters for battered women... it's harder to UNlearn phobias of snakes than butterflies, too.

Also, and this is not a quibble, we've had a LOT more than a few hundred thousands of generations of evolving, even from the other apes!

And Amos, I was kidding! BG! Don't do emoticons...