evolutionary explanations Flashcards
what is a relationship?
A continuing and often committed association between 2 or more people.
what is natural selection?
The argument that genes which are advantageous for survival are naturally selected.
what is sexual selection?
- a form of natural selection
- suggests that the characteristics that increase reproductive success are passed on and may become exaggerated through generations.
what is anisogamy?
Refers to the sex differences between males and females sex cells.
what is the consequence of anisogamy?
There is no shortage of fertile males but there are shortages of fertile females.
Females are a rarer resource.
Anisogamy gives rise to 2 types of sexual selection.
what is meant by intersexual selection?
- strategies that are used by one sex to attract the other sex
- evolutionists argue that females prefer quality over quantity and therefore intersexual selection is particularly important for them.
what is the female strategy for intersexual selection?
Inter-sexual selection (between the sexes).
best strategy for females to enhance their reproductive success is to:
- carefully select their mate.
what is the impact of female strategy on partner preference?
Females look for males who display genetic ‘fitness’ which include strength, status, and resources.
Females are more likely to date to ensure they find the best mate and the one who is willing to invest time, effort and resources in them and their offspring once the child is born.
This will help to enhance reproductive success of their offspring.
what is meant by intrasexual selection?
This involves strategies between males to try to be the one that is selected.
Evolutionists would argue that males prefer quantity over quality and therefore intrasexual is important for them.
what is the male strategy of intrasexual selection?
This can lead to dysmorphism.
Their strategy is to have as much sex (with as many fertile females as possible) as possible.
what is the impact of intrasexual selection on partner preference?
Males look for females who display signs of fertility, including good health, youth and childbearing hips as these females will enhance their chance of reproductive success.
‘Winning males’ get their genes passed on to their offspring and this is likely to get perpetrated.
This can also explain physical differences in body size and physical appearance between males and females = physical dysmorphism.
