Evolutionary Explanations

Question 1

Darwin’s sexual selection

Answer 1

• Human reproductive behaviour is driven by needs to survive and reproduce
• sexual selection - males compete with each other to attract the females & females compete to attract men
• genes that hv good reproductive/survival rates will be chosen & increase the gene pool

Question 2

Inter-sexual selection

Answer 2

• females have higher parental certainty & make greater investments (time/energy) and put more effort into their offspring
• making the wrong choice serious consequences making the email especially selective
• can be explained by anisogamy - difference between male/female gametes
Sperm (cheap) eggs (expensive)
• Females focus on quality of males & attractiveness

Question 3

Fishers sexy sons

Answer 3

• females select males w certain characteristics
• “sexy trait” Ultimately be inherited by their son
• higher chance of being selected by generations of females and genes will be perpetrated further

Question 4

Intra-sexual selection

Answer 4

• Males compete with each other to attract females through strength, masculinity, power & dominance
• low investment cost & lack potential
• males are seen to be taller & masculine (protective & dominant)
• females are seen to be smaller & less macular (youthfulness & fertility)

Question 5

Intra-sexual selection

Answer 5

• Males compete with each other to attract females through strength, masculinity, power & dominance
• low investment cost & lack potential
• males are seen to be taller & masculine (protective & dominant)
• females are seen to be smaller & less macular (youthfulness & fertility)

Question 6

Strength
- research support

Answer 6

Clark & Hatfield
• approach uni students on campus if they wanted to go out tonight as they find them attractive
• not a single female accepted
• 75% male accepted
• supports females being more choosier

Question 7

Limitation
- sexual selection & homosexuality

Answer 7

• cannot explain preferences for lesbians & gays
• homosexual relationships aren’t assessing genetic fitness
• Lawson et al found the preferences for homosexual men & women differ just as they do in heterosexual men & women

Question 8

Limitation

Answer 8

• based on western notions of stereotypes and patriarchal dominance