evolutionary explanation - relationships Flashcards
evolutionary approach states
animals will select a mate with the best possible genes who will be best to ensure offsprings health and future
it argues that
preferences, behaviours and relationships origin in the evolutionary past and exist from survival or reproductive advantages
it may explain..
qualities men and women find attractive
qualities they seek
difference in human reproductive behaviours
Cunningham 1986
investigated what types of female faces are found attractive by males
finding that men are most attracted to features associated with young children
Waynforth 1995
found that masculine facial features such as a symmetrical face were preferred by women especially those seeking a short term partner
Buss 1989 - supports anisogamy
cross cultural study looking at partner preferences in men and women
found - men placed more importance on physical attractiveness and younger women
women desired financial capacity and success
differences in reproductive behaviours
Men more likely to engage in casual sex than women
demonstrated by Clark and Hatfield studies 1989-1990
sexual selection
Darwins evolutionary theory
evolution driven by competition
anisogamy
the differences between male and female gametes
men- looking to impregnate women as a result they want youth in women
women- have limited reproduction = choosy
inter-sexual selection
between the sexes, the criteria one sex uses to select the other
Trivers 1972- inter sexual selection
points to their greater investment in offspring before and after birth, consequences of a poor mate are more costly as invested time that has been wasted - limited reproduction
intra sexual selection
strategies within the sex to promote sexual selection over competition
issue- female preferences for high status not universal
Buller argues that studies attempting to determine female mate preferences have been carried out on female undergraduate students- have high expectations
