Evolutionary Explanations

Question 1

What is evolution?

Answer 1

Evolution is the concept whereby genes mutate over time, sometimes giving individuals an advantage when competing for resources like food and mates. Human traits and behaviours will also likely be carried on. This gradual change of genetic makeup is known as natural selection.

Question 2

What is sexual selection?

Answer 2

An evolutionary explanation for partner preference. Attributed or behaviours that increase reproductive success are passed on and may become exaggerated over succeeding generations of offspring.

Question 3

What is human reproductive behaviour?

Answer 3

This refers to any behaviours which relate to opportunities to reproduce and thereby increase the survival chances of our genes. It includes the evolutionary mechanisms underlying our partner preferences, such as mate choice and mate competition.

Question 4

What is anisogymy?

Answer 4

Differences between male and female sex cells (gametes)

Question 5

How many eggs do women produce?

Answer 5

One egg a month - roughly 300 over the course of the reproductive lifetime of 25 years

Question 6

How much sperm do men produce?

Answer 6

Roughly 100 million sperm in a single ejaculation.

Question 7

What is inter-sexual selection?

Answer 7

• One sex chooses from a group of prospective mates according to attractiveness.
• The preferred strategy of the female (quality over quantity)
• Females may be quite fussy, and wisely choose a partner who can offer resources

Question 8

What is intra-sexual selection?

Answer 8

• Members of one sex compete for access to the other sex.
• The preferred strategy of the male (quantity over quality)
• The winner of the competition reproduces and gets to pass on to his offspring the characteristics that contributed to his victory

Question 9

What is the optimum strategy?

Answer 9

Select a genetically fit partner who is able and willing to provide resources. This leaves the males competing for the opportunity to mate with the fertile females.

Question 10

What is the ‘sexy sons’ hypothesis?

Answer 10

Female mates with a male with desirable characteristics, and this ‘sexy’ trait is inherited by her son, increasing the likelihood that successive generations of females will mate with her offspring.

Question 11

What is dimorphism?

Answer 11

The obvious differences between males and females.

Question 12

What are courtship rituals?

Answer 12

Allows showing off genetic potential and resources

Question 13

How does size contribute to male mating strategies?

Answer 13

Bigger body sizes demonstrate physical strength and an ability to protect partner and offspring from threats.

Question 14

How does sperm contribute to male mating strategies?

Answer 14

Men have evolved to have bigger testicles and faster swimming sperm

Question 15

What is mate guarding?

Answer 15

Keeping a close eye on partners to prevent unfaithfulness.

Question 16

What is sneak copulation?

Answer 16

Being unfaithful

Question 17

What is the handicap hypothesis?

Answer 17

Some women may pick men with handicaps as it shows an ability to thrive despite adversities. May explain why some women are attracted to men who take drugs and drink a lot.

Question 18

How does courtship relate to female mating strategies?

Answer 18

Dating is an important strategy for females to establish a man’s worth to produce offspring.

Question 19

What is the ideal waist-hip ratio?

Answer 19

0.7