Evolutionary Sexuality theories

Question 1

Evolutionary theories

Answer 1

Sociobiology
Evolutionary
Gender-Neutral Evolutionary Theory

Question 2

Sociobiology

Answer 2

Application of evolutionary biology to understand social behaviour of animals (and humans).

Argue that attraction is based on indications of health/vigor of individual. (natural selection)

Question 3

Sexual selection

Answer 3

Competition amon gmembers of one gender (usually males)

Preferential choice by members of one member (usually females)

Question 4

Evolutionary psychology

Answer 4

Focus on psycological mechanisms that are shaped by evolution

Considers sexual strategies, based on wishes/needs (Long/short term goals different for males/females, resources etc)

Question 5

Gender-Neutral theory

Answer 5

Doesn’t insist fixed male/female behaviour. Based on idea that individuals change their mating behaivour in adaptive ways depending on the environment

Question 6

Criticism for sociobiology

Answer 6

• Some object the biological determinism it implies (all human nature is innate/determined by genes)
• Rests on outdated evolutionary theory (too much focus on individual struggle/effort to reproduce)
• Assume central function of sex is reproduction.

Question 7

Criticism for evolutionary theory

Answer 7

Men & women both prefer long-term relationships

Assumes every characteristic must have adaptive signficance, sum might just be design flaws

Male strategies change in response to characteristics and evironmental contingencies

WEIRD population research