Evolutionary preferences for partner preferences Flashcards
What is Darwin’s concept of sexual selection?
The selection of characteristics that aid successful reproduction.
What is anisogamy?
The difference between male and female sex cells (gamates).
Male sperm cells are highly mobile, created continuously in vast numbers and last until old age.
Female gamates are static and produced in intervals for a limited number of years.
What is a consequence of anisogamy?
There is no shortage of fertile males but a fertile female is rarer.
What is Human Reproductive Behaviour?
Refers to any behaviours which relate to opportunities to reproduce and thereby increase the survival chances of our genes.
What is inter-sexual selection?
It is between (inter) the sexes- the strategies that males use to select females or females use to select males.
It is the preferred strategy for the female because of the eggs are rarer than sperm.
What did Robert Trivers point out about inter-sexual selection?
That the females make a greater investment of time, commitment and other resources before, during and after childbirth of her offspring.
Both sexes are choosy, because both stand to lose if they invest resources in a substandard partner. - The consequences are more serious for the female so they are normally the most selective.
What is the females optimum mating strategy?
To select a genetically fit partner who provides resources.
It is this female preference that determines what features are passed onto the offspring.
Who developed the sexy sons hypothesis?
Ronald Fisher
What was the sexy sons hypothesis?
The genes that we see today are those that enhanced reproductive success.
A female who mates with a male who has a certain characteristic then will have sons who inherit this sexy trait.
Then her sons are likely to also have this sexy trait and pass on the genes for many generations.
What is inta-sexual selection?
Within (intra) each sex- such as the strategies between males to be the one that is selected.
There is competition between males to be selected to mate with a female and the winner of the competition reproduces and therefore passes on the characteristics that contributed to his victory.
What is dimorphism?
Enhanced male and female characteristics are selected by both genders, making these physical characteristic more common in the population.
What are the characteristics that are favourable for men and women?
Males- tall and large
Females- youthfulness, wide hips
What are intra-sexual selection behavioural characteristics?
The characteristics that are favoured and passed on are those that allow a male to outcompete his rivals, including deceitfulness, intelligence and aggression.
Evaluation: What is some research support for inter-sexual selection?
Supporting evidence from the specific role of female choosiness in heterosexual partner preference.
Russell Clark and Elaine Hatfield- sent male and female psychology students out across a university campus. Thay approached students with the question:
“I have been noticing you around the campus. I find you very attractive. Would you like to bed with me tonight?”
Females accepted- 0%
Males accepted-75%
Supporting the view that females are choosier then males and that males have evolved a different strategy for reproductive success.
Evaluation: What is some research support for intra-sexual selection?
Evidence to support the predictions of sexual selection. theory.
David Buss carried out a survey of over 10,000 adults in 33 countries.
He asked questions relating to a variety of attributes that evolutionary theory predicts are important in partner preferences.
Found that females placed value on good financial prospects and ambition.
Men valued physical attractiveness and youth.
These findings reflect the consistent sex differences in partner preferences and support the predictions from sexual selection theory.
