Evolution Flashcards
What is natural selection in terms of human behavior?
Natural selection is the idea that human behavior is driven by the need to survive and reproduce.
What do evolutionary approaches state about mate selection?
Evolutionary approaches state that animals are motivated to select a ‘mate’ with the best possible genes who will best be able to ensure the offspring’s future health and survival.
What is anisogamy?
Anisogamy means two sex cells (or gametes) that are different coming together to reproduce.
What are male gametes and their characteristics?
Men have sperm cells, which are able to reproduce quickly with little energy expenditure and once they start being produced they do not usually stop until the man dies.
What are female gametes and their characteristics?
Female gametes (eggs or ova) are much less plentiful; they are released in a limited time frame (between puberty and menopause) and require much more energy to produce.
How does anisogamy affect mate selection strategies?
Anisogamy means that men and women use different strategies when choosing their partners.
What is intersexual selection?
Intersexual selection is when one gender makes mate choices based on a specific characteristic in the other gender, meaning those with the trait are more likely to breed and pass on the trait.
Which gender typically uses intersexual selection and why?
Females typically use intersexual selection due to high investment cost and parental certainty of children, picking the highest quality mate based on attractive features indicating good genes.
What is intrasexual selection?
Intrasexual selection is the strategy of males to compete between themselves for access to a large quantity of members of the opposite sex.
Why was intrasexual selection initially physical?
Intrasexual selection was initially very physical, favoring large, dominant males who would father most of the offspring and increase the frequency of their genes in the gene pool.
What is male-female dimorphism?
Male-Female dimorphism is where enhanced secondary characteristics are selected on each gender by the opposite gender, leading to these becoming more common in the population.
What qualities do females look for in males according to evolutionary psychology?
Evolutionary psychology suggests that females look for qualities in men that will help raise a child to adulthood such as resources/money, and physical characteristics linked to dominance (tall/healthy).
What qualities do males look for in females according to evolutionary psychology?
Evolutionary psychology suggests that males look for signs of fertility that indicate the production of healthy offspring such as large breasts, youthful facial features (big eyes, small nose, small chin), and the hourglass body shape of a 0.7 waist-to-hip ratio.
What was the aim of Clark and Hatfield’s (1989) study?
Clark and Hatfield (1989) asked male and female psychology students to approach fellow students and ask them for a date, to go back to their apartment, or to go to bed with them.
What were the key findings of Clark and Hatfield’s (1989) study?
About 50% of both men and women agreed to a date. However, 69% of men agreed to visit the apartment and 75% agreed to go to bed, whereas only 6% of women agreed to the apartment and 0% accepted the more intimate offer.
How does Clark and Hatfield’s (1989) study support sexual selection?
It supports inter and intrasexual selection as males attempt to sleep with many partners while females are more selective.
What is the conflict between natural and sexual selection?
Traits selected for sexually may not aid survival, e.g., peacocks with large tail feathers attract mates but have a survival disadvantage against predators.
What did Dion et al. (1972) find regarding physical attractiveness and parenting?
Dion et al. (1972) found that those rated as most physically attractive were not rated highly on ‘Would be a good parent,’ which could contradict theories of inter and intra-sexual selection.
How does the evolutionary approach contribute to gender bias?
It legitimizes a gender double standard, exaggerating sexual differences and suggesting alpha bias.
Why is research in this area socially sensitive?
Findings could be used to justify shaming women for their sexual behavior.
What did Cunningham (1986) find about male attraction?
Cunningham (1986) found that men were most attracted to youthful faces (big eyes, small noses, small chins).
What did Singh (1993) find about waist-to-hip ratio?
Singh (1993) found a cross-cultural preference for a 0.7 waist-to-hip ratio.
Why is the evolutionary approach considered deterministic?
It suggests we have little free will in partner choice, though everyday experience suggests some control over preferences.
What is a limitation of evolutionary theory regarding relationships?
It does not explain other relationship types (e.g., gay and lesbian relationships) or cultural variations such as arranged marriages.
