Biological Approach - Genetics and Behaviour - Evolutionary Explanations

Question 1

Evolution

Answer 1

• The process by which organisms change from generation to generation as a result of change in heritable characteristics
• 2 evolutionary explanations:
  
  • natural selection
  • sexual selection

Question 2

Natural Selection

Answer 2

• The process by which the individuals with characteristics most suited for the environment are more likely to survive and reproduce
• Their genes are then passed on to their offspring -

Question 3

Sexual Selection

Answer 3

• The process by which traits that help an organism reproduce
• 2 subcategories:
  
  • intrasexual selection
  • intersexual selection

Question 4

Intrasexual Selection

Answer 4

• The idea that males from the same species compete for the female. The male that wins will pass on their genes to the offsprings.

Question 5

Intersexual Selection

Answer 5

• The idea that organisms from the same species look for desired traits in their mating partner, and the most dominant trait looked for in the opposite sex will be passed on to offsprings.

Question 6

Parental Investment Theory

Answer 6

• The sex investing more in offsrping (typically female)
  will be choosier about their mating partners
  
  • seeks one mature male, with status and power
• The sex investing less (typically male) will look for
  young, beautiful and fertile females

Question 7

Clark & Hatfield (1989)

Answer 7

Aim:
- Investigate the differences in choosiness shown by males and females, when approached by a stranger offering sex

Pps:
- 48 males and 48 females

Procedure:

• Pps were approached by an average attractive person of the opposite sex asking one of the 3 qs:
  
  • “would you go out with me tonight?”
  • “would you come over to my apartment tonight?”
  • “would you go to bed with me tonight?”
• Confederates instructed to only approach pps whom they found genuinely attracting and with whom they would consider having sex
• DV: whether pps said yes or no

Results:
- Men accepted the Apartment-request and Bed-request much more often than women did
- When men did not accept, they gave excuses, for e.g. “I’m married”
- women never gave excuses
- The request for a date was met with around 50% agreement from both men and women
- Conclusion:
- men are more eager for sex with strangers than
women