Evolutionsary Explanations Flashcards
Define evolution
The process that living organisms are believed to have developed from earlier forms.
What is natural selection?
The process where organisms have adapted to their environment.
Why do organisms carry out natural selection?
In order to survive longer and produce more offspring.
What is sexual selection?
Natural selection arising through preference for certain characteristics.
What is anisogamy?
There are differences between male and female sex cells.
What is inter-sexual selection?
The selection of mates between sexes. E.g. Males and female selecting female and males.
What are the female strategies for selecting a partner?
- Quality not quantity
- Women have a greater investment in child rearing so their best chance is to be picky.
- Physical attributes which indicate health and support are seen as attractive and are likely to be passed on.
What is intra-sexual selection?
The selection of mates within sexes. E.g. Males competing with other males for mates.
What are the male strategies for selecting a partner?
- Quantity over quality, reproduce as much as possible.
- Competition is necessary as women are limited.
- Those who are successful in competing will pass of their genes.
Who found support for evolutionary explanations?
Buss 1989
Who found contradicting evidence for evolutionary explanations?
Chang et al
What did Buss do?
- Surveyed over 10,000 adults in 33 countries asking about partner preference.
What did Buss find?
- Females valued resource related characteristics more than males. E.g. Financial attributes.
- Males valued reproductive capacity more than females. E.g. Attractiveness..
What can be concluded for Buss’ research?
This supports sex differences due to Amis go y and partner preferences from the sexual selection theory.
What did Chang et al do?
Reported that some preferences have changed over 25 years in China.
