[G] Evolutionary theory Flashcards
What do evolutionary explanations of gender development suggest?
Selective pressure led to physical differences, psychological differences and different social roles for males and females.
What kind of tasks do women usually do?
Nurturing tasks, such as taking care of children and keeping a house.
What kind of tasks do men usually do?
Physical tasks, such as being the breadwinner and DIY.
What is the male evolutionary advantage?
Being strong and built.
What is the female evolutionary advantage?
Wider hips to aid childbirth and a caring nature.
How does the fact that males lack parental certainty influence their behaviour?
Their best interests are in having as many children as possible, so it is more likely that their genes will be passed down.
How does the fact that females do have parental certainty affect their behaviour?
They want to make sure that they settle down with a suitable male who will provide and be loyal to them.
What do females look for in a mate?
Resources, attractiveness, status and strength.
What do males look for in a mate?
Symbols of fertility, health and productivity.
What is intrasexual selection?
Competition between males.
What is the result of intrasexual selection?
Successful males are usually stronger and more successful as they have the ability to fight for females and are also attractive.
How are gender roles adaptive?
They focus on the reproduction and survival of offspring.
How do males and females react differently in times of threat?
Males would stand their ground and fight, whereas females would protect their young and flee.
What did Kenrick et al find?
In the Xavante hunter gatherer people, the average number of offspring for males and females was 3.9, but males varied by 12.1 and women 3.9. Only one of 195 women was childless at 20.
What did Wood and Eagly find?
In non-industrial societies, the men usually hunt and kill animals and make tools, whereas women looked after children while collecting and cooking food.
What did Tamres et al find?
In times of threat and stress, women seek the company of others much more than men do.
What did Buss find?
Females seek males with resources and ambition, while males seek physical attractiveness and youth.
What did Holloway et al find?
Human males are 1.1 times bigger than females, in chimpanzees the males are 1.3 times bigger.
What did Daly and Wilson find?
All cases of female-female murder in Denmark between 1933 and 1967 were of infanticide.
What did Zeller find?
Some activities are not perceived as being exclusively male or female, they can be gender neutral.
What are three strengths of the evolutionary explanation of gender development?
- Lots of cross cultural research.
- Nature side of nature/nurture debate.
- Neanderthal society did not have division of labour, which could explain their extinction.
What are three weaknesses of the evolutionary explanation of gender development?
- Reductionist, does not consider personal feelings.
- Does not consider nurture side of debate.
- Deterministic.
