3. mating and attraction Flashcards
e to the time demands of pregnancy and lactation, females have a limited number o
offspring they can produce
Given that the production of offspring is limited and physically demanding for females, evolutionary psychologists argue
that it may benefit females to be selective in choosing a mate, and be discerning in finding a male with high-quality genes
if females benefit most from having a mate who invests valuable resources and offers protection from predators and enemies, according to evolutionary psychology, they should be more likely to prefer males who
are willing and able to reliably provide these resources
while reproduction is less physically demanding for males, childrearing places considerable demands on males to
support and protect their offspring and their mother
Because males can produce a larger number of offspring, evolutionary psychologists would argue that they can maximise their reproductive output by mating with the
youngest and most fertile females
research has found that both men and women desire partners who are
intelligent, kind, understanding, and healthy
Both men and women also want partners with similar
personalities, attitudes, and religious beliefs to their own
a females’ reproductive value is greatest when she is
young
signs of health and fertility in females include
healthy hair, skin and facial features such as smooth skin, large eyes and plump lips
smooth skin, large eyes and plump lips are indicative of
high estrogen
Evidence also suggests that males tend to be attracted to females with a waist-to-hip ratio of approximately
0.7
recent findings indicate that there may be a preference among males for an ______ curvature of the spine
ideal
In a novel study design, Lewis and colleagues found that there is an ______ angle of lumbar curvature that men find most attractive in women
In a novel study design, Lewis and colleagues found that there is an “optimal” angle of lumbar curvature that men find most attractive in women
Lewis and colleagues argue that a possible reason for this could be that it might indicate
readiness for pregnancy, due to a shift forward in the centre of mass created by the foetus.
women tend to prefer males who possess the qualities that suggest they are
reliable source of investment for them and their offspring