Evolutionary: Sexual Selection Theory

Question 1

What are the 3 hypotheses derived from sexual selection theory?

Answer 1

1: men want physical attractiveness (indicates youth and fertility) 2: women want men with resources (need for offspring survival) 3: women choosier than men for short-term sexual liaisons (high pregnancy risk)

Question 2

What is the evidence for hypothesis 1 (men want attractive women)?

Answer 2

Buss 1989: 37 cultures, men more likely to rate attractiveness higher. Dunbar and Waynforth 1995: content analysis of personal ads, men twice likely rate attractiveness important, preference for younger. Feingold 1990: meta, 5 methods, sex differences shown, more by self report than behaviour

Question 3

What is the evidence for hypothesis 2 (women want men with resources)?

Answer 3

Buss 1989: females want cluster of factors related to resources (prospects, ambition, industriousness). Dunbar and Waynforth 1995: women rate resources higher, preference for older- resources more likely. Feingold 1992: meta, questionnaires/personal ad analysis, women more concerned with socioeconomic status, ambitiousness and intelligence

Question 4

What is the evidence for hypothesis 3 (women choosier for short term sexual liaisons)?

Answer 4

Clark and Hatfield 1989: attractive confeds offered sex, men 75% women 0% yes, 1990: assured trustworthiness of confed, same results. Buss and Schmitt 1993: general unwillingness for uncommitted sex in lesbians. Gueguen 2011: C&H replicate, France, 83% men, 3% yes to highly attractive confed

Question 5

What are the strengths of Buss’ 1989 study?

Answer 5

37 cultures, not just WEIRD, universal across cultures = part of human nature = stronger evidence for sexual selection theory

Question 6

What are the methodological weaknesses of Dunbar and Waynforth’s 1995 study?

Answer 6

Personal ads only taken from US newspapers, only a certain type of person makes newspaper ads

Question 7

What issue is raised by Feingold’s 1990 study?

Answer 7

difference between male and females on attractiveness was greater shown by self reports than social behaviour research: behaviour isn’t the same as attitudes = weakened support for sexual selection theory