The Evolutionary Explanations For Partner Preferences Flashcards
(23 cards)
What is human reproductive behaviour?
Any behaviours which relate to opportunities to reproduce and there y increase thee survival of our genes
What is sexual selection?
An evolutionary explanation of partner preferences, including attributes or behaviours that increase reproductive success
What is anisogamy?
Refers to the difference between male and female sex cells, that eventually come together to reproduce
What are the 2 types of sexual selection?
Inter-sexual selection and intra-sexual selection
What is inter-sexual selection?
What a male/female looks for in a partner - evolved preferences of desirable qualities in potential mates
What characteristics do females desire in partners?
Females seek socioeconomic status, such as a resources because these are indicators that her mate can provide for her and their offspring
What characteristics do males look for in their partners?
Males look for physical appearance such as youthfulness and attractiveness, this is because these are indicators that their partner has reproductive value and can pass on his genes
What is the sexy sons hypothesis?
The genes we see today are those that enhanced reproductive success
What is the supporting evidence for this theory?
Buss’ 1989 - cross cultural
Clark and Hatfield 1989 - American uni students
What was Buss’ 1989 study?
Buss analysed the results of more than 10,000 questionnaires asking P’s to rate factors such as age, intelligence and sociability for their importance in a sexual partner - he found men valued attractiveness more than women and women valued good earning more than men
What was Clark and Hatfield’s 1989 study?
C&H sent attractive male and female psychology students across their campus, the students asked other students “would you go to bed with me tonight?” 75% of males agreed and 0% of females agreed
What are the 4 evaluation points for intersexual selection?
+ Supporting evidence - Buss 1989
- Females may have given socially desirable responses - Buss 1989
+ high face validity - ‘gold diggers’ and ‘sugar daddies’
- similar mating preferences in long term relationships - Buss and Schmitt’s 2016
What is intra-sexual selection?
The competition between people of the same sex to win over a partner
what is sexual dimorphism?
males and females end up looking very different due to intra-sexual selection - males end up being naturally bigger and stronger than females
What is the supporting evidence for intra-sexual selection?
Daly and Wilson 1988
What was Daly and Wilson’s study 1988?
Found that 90% of all same sex murders involve ment at the age when mate competition is most intense and that a large population of this violence is connected to sexual rivalry
What are the evaluation points of intra-sexual selection?
+ Supporting evidence - Buss 1988 & Daly and Wilson 1988
- Can’t explain homosexual partner preferences - Lawson et al 2014
- Deterministic - cultural influences
What is parental investment?
Any investment by parent in an offspring that increases the chance that the offspring with survive at the expense of the parent’s ability to invest in any other offspring
How does parental investment support inter-sexual selection?
Shows that women are the ones choosing a partner amongst the available males - quality over quantity
How does parental investment support intra-sexual selection?
Because men are competing for access to the most fertile women
Why do males have low parental investment?
They have low paternity confidence - knowing that the child is theirs and they can produce can a vast number of offspring
Why do females have high parental investment?
They have high paternity confidence - they child is 100% theirs so they have to pick their partner wisely
What are the evaluation points for parental investment?
+ Supporting evidence - Clark and Hatfield 1989
- May not be as relevant to today’s society - changes in social attitudes
