Evolutionary Explanations

Question 1

Sexual selection

Answer 1

• Attributes or behaviours that increase reproductive success are passed on and may become exaggerated over time
• Probability of passing on our genes depends partly on our chances of survival but also on ability to attract a mate
• Charles Darwin: if a male characteristic enhances reproductive success it becomes an established preference amongst females
• goal for malls is to out compete their rivals

Question 2

Human reproductive behaviour

Answer 2

• any behaviours which relate to opportunities to reproduce and thereby increase the survival chances of our genes

Question 3

Anisogamy

Answer 3

• Male gametes: sperm
• female gametes: eggs

Question 4

Intersexual selection

Answer 4

• Between the sexes
• female preferred
• males use to select females or female strategies to select a male
• quality over quantity

Question 5

Intrasexual selection

Answer 5

• within each sex
• strategies between males/females to be the one that is selected
• quantity over quality

Question 6

Evolutionary explanations: :( Some human traits have no survival value and have arose out of sexual selection

Answer 6

• Nettle & Clegg: a sample of contemporary British poets and artists had more sexual partners than a control group.
• Positive correlation between creative output and quantity of sexual partners

Question 7

Evolutionary explanations: :( female mate choice varies across the menstrual cycle

Answer 7

• Penton-Voak et al (1999): women choose a slightly more feminised male face for a “long-term” relationship due to assumptions of more nurturing qualities but during higher conception risk, more masculine male faces are preferred in hopes of producing more masculine offspring

Question 8

Evolutionary explanations: :( Studies into sexual selection may lack validity

Answer 8

• Buss (1989): expressed preferences rather than what happens in real life
  :( More valid in cultures where arranged marriage is norm

Question 9

Evolutionary explanations: :( Female preferences for high-status men may not be universal

Answer 9

• Buller (2005): studies on the topic have been carried out on female undergraduates who want high achievements
  -> may have a preference for males with similar interests and prospects

Question 10

:( Issues and debates

Answer 10

• Gender bias: Buss (2002): ignores promiscuity for females
• Deterministic: can only explain cause and effect for some partner’s preferences