Sex Differences In Parental Investment

Question 1

AO1

Batesman’s principle

Triver’s theory of parental investment

Answer 1

Batesman’s principle - females initial investment far greater - less numerous and more costly
Limited offspring, males have unlimited - males = quality, females = quantity

Triver’s theory of parental investment -
Mistakes in mate choice can be v costly for women - more selective - post and pre natal contribution of resources far more costly
Females may settle for finically secure men but extra martial affairs with attractive ones
Indiscriminate mating far less costly for males

Question 2

AO2

Rowe 
Geher et al 
Gender bias
Anderson
Nature/nurtures

Answer 2

Rowe - men’s paternal investment dependent of personal characteristics and social conditions depending on rel with mother, personality of child

Geher - 91 non parent undergrads - completed parental investment scale and exposed to parenting scenarios - males increased heart rate when scenarios interfered with work - less willing

Gender bias - males presented v unfairly - single fathers

Anderson - resources invested by fathers/stepfather indiscriminate between own child and previous partners child

Nature/nurture - bowlby suggested internal working model - insecure females may not invest so heavily