HC 4 Flashcards
What evolutionary psychology is saying on:
- Learning and Culture matter?
- What is, is not what ought to be?
- Evolutionary psychologists are neither traditional, nor conservative?
1• Learning and culture matter:
– Cultural variation is adaptive response (e.g., mate
preferences)
2• What is, is not what ought to be
– We do not need to follow our instincts!
3• Evolutionary psychologists are neither
traditional, nor conservative
– e.g., individual rights, wealth distribution
Adaptive Benefit for Men’s Short-Term Mating (2)
– Low parental investment
– High numbers of offspring
Potential Costs of Short- Term Mating (5)
– Contracting STDs – Social reputation as “womanizer” – Lowered chance of offspring surviving – Violence at hands of women’s family members – Retaliatory affairs by wives/mates
Physiological Evidence for short term mating strategy men
• Testicle Size
• Variations in Sperm Production
• Testicle Size – Evolved due to sperm competition – 0.079 percent of men’s body weight - 0.018 for gorillas (long term) - 0.269 for chimpanzees (short-term) • Variations in Sperm Production – Sperm count increases with increasing amounts of time apart since last sexual encounter (even when controlled for time since last ejaculation)
Partner Number and Variety
> Potential adaptations (3)
- Desire for sexual access to a large number of women
- Relaxation of standards
- Minimum time constraints
Minimizing Commitment After Sex
• Attraction-Reduction Effect
– Men with more sexual partners experienced a sharp decline in sexual attractiveness of partner immediately following intercourse
– Neither women nor men with less sexual experience show this decline
– “Hasty Postcopulatory Departure” (Dutch term?)
Sexual Regret males vs females
• Males
– Feel more regret over missed sexual opportunities
(sexual omission)
• Females
– Feel more regret over sexual actions taken (sexual commission)
Differences in Sexual Desire and Sexual Fantasies?
• Sexual Desire
– Men = 37 times per week
– Women = 9 times per week
• Sexual Fantasies
– Men have twice as many sexual fantasies as
women – Content
• Males = sexual access and variety of partners
Behavioral Evidence differences in Sexual Desire and Sexual Fantasies? (3)
- Extramarital Affairs
- Prostitution
- Friends with benefits
Adaptive Benefits of Women’s Short- Term Mating
1. Resource Hypothesis (4)
• Sex in exchange for food, goods, or services
• Paternity confusion hypothesis
• Protection
– A man cannot always be around to defend
– A second mate adds protection
• Elevated Social Standing
Adaptive Benefits of Women’s Short- Term Mating
2. Genes Hypothesis
• Enhanced Fertility
– Fertility backup if regular mate is infertile or impotent
• Superior Genes
– Sexy son hypothesis
• Different Genes
– Hedge against environmental change
Evidence for Short-Term Mating for Women?
• Female Orgasm (3)
– Retains more sperm (~5
percent)
– More likely to be orgasmic with affair partner than husband
– Time intercourse at most fertile point in menstrual cycle
Adaptive Benefits of Women’s Short- Term Mating
3. Mate Switching Hypothesis (affairs) (2)
When women start affairs:
– If a mate stops bringing in resources, starts abusing or “otherwise declines in his value to her as a mate”
– Mate Expulsion: Having short-term affairs would help the woman get rid of her long-term mate
Adaptive Benefits of Women’s Short- Term Mating
4. Mate Skill Acquisition Hypothesis (2)
• Short-Term
• Means to assess and evaluate prospective long-term mates
– Allows a woman to:
> Clarify the qualities she desires
> Evaluate her compatibility with a mate
> Reveal hidden costs he might carry
– Hone her skills of attraction and seduction so that she can attract a more desirable long-term mate
Adaptive Benefits of Women’s Short- Term Mating
5. Mate Manipulation Hypothesis (2)
- Gain revenge for infidelity
* Increase commitment of regular mate
