evolutionary explanations for partner preferences Flashcards
who devised the concept of ‘sexual selection’
darwin (1981)
define sexual selection
an evolutionary explanation of partner preference where the selection of characteristics aids reproductive success
describe anisogamy
- difference between male and female gametes
- male gametes (sperm) are small, mobile, created continuously, millions made & don’t require much energy to be produced
- female gametes (eggs) are large, static, produced for a limited number during fertile years & require a significant amount of energy to produce
- fertile females are a much rarer ‘resource’
what two types of sexual selection does anisogamy lead to
- intersexual selection
- intrasexual selection
describe intersexual selection
- between the sexes
- strategies females use to select males & vice versa
- preferred strategy of females (quality over quantity)
- female preference determines features passed onto offspring
what did trivers (1972) point out about intersexual selection
- females make greater investment of commitment & other resources during, before & after birth = more picky
- both sexes are picky as risk losing resources if choose substandard partners (more serious for female)
- female’s optimum mating strategy is to chose genetically fit partner who’s able to provide resources
(intersexual selection)
fisher (1930) - sexy sons hypothesis
- genes we see today are those that enhanced reproductive success
- female who mates with male with certain characteristic will have sons who inherit this ‘sexy’ gene
- sons more likely to be selected by successive generations of females
describe intrasexual selection
- within each sex
- eg. strategies between males to be the one selected to mate with female
- winner reproduces & characteristics which contributed may be passed to offspring
- given rise to dimorphism = males & females look very different
- has behavioural consequence as those favoured which contributed to victory will be passed on (eg. deceitfulness, intelligence, aggression)
what do men look for in women & why
youth & physical attractiveness = signs of good fertility & reproductive value
what do women look for in men & why
older males with wealth & resources = provide for offspring & the female
–> also maturity & security
AO3 (+) research support for sexual selection
P: research support for sexual selection theory
E: buss (1989)
- carried out survey of 10,000+ people from 33 countries
- found women want men with ‘good financial prospects’ = provider
- found men want women who are physically attractive (healthy) & younger (fertile)
T: reflect consistent sex differences in partner preferences & support predictions of sexual selection theory
AO3 (+) research support for sexual selection
P: research support for role of female specificity in heterosexual partner preference
E: clark & hatfield (1989)
- sent male & female psychology students across university campus
- approached students & asked student asked them to go to bed with them
- 0 females accepted
- 75% of males did
T: supports idea that females are pickier than men when selecting sexual partners & males have evolved a different strategy for reproductive success
AO3 (-) heterocentric theory
P: heterocentric thery
E:
- cannot explain partner preferences for gay men & lesbian women (homosexual relationships)
- most of research heterosexual relationships
AO3 (-) outdated theory
P: sexual selection theory regarding partner preferences for males & females is outdated
E: many women work nowadays & support themselves so, social change means females mate preferences may no longer be resource-orientated (bereczkei et al.)
eg. theory states women desire older men with finance/resources
T: theory lacks temporal validity
