Human reproductive behaviour Flashcards
Intrasexual competition
males have to compete with other males to obtain a female. Those that
win and are successful may continue to produce offspring.
Intersexual competition
this occurs for females. Females invest their time and resources heavily
into raising a few offspring so they have to be picky and make the correct choice of partner,
specifically searching for someone who can produce offspring worth of their investment.
Females have more severe implications if they accidentally choose a partner with unsatisfactory
genes. This results in intersexual selection where females choose the best available partner from
the men that are competing, in order to ensure that their offspring are the best possible.
The origins of mate choice
Through evolution our ancestors evolved brains and neural adaptations that were related to
favouring partners with particular traits. Females would reject or accept potential mates, with them
being very selective as a way of ensuring better genetic quality of offspring.
Mate choice: Physical indicators: body and face
A physical indicator on a potential partner may display their strength and resistance to disease. For
example our ancestors that were most muscular would have reproduced more easily and thus
passed on such genes that allow muscle to develop more easily. Females would have selected such
muscular males for their strength because they most able to protect them and their offspring. Such
physical strength is sought for protection as well the opportunity for such genes to be passed on to
their offspring, allowing their genes to be further passed on. With regards to facial features, both
males and females seek a face that displays good health and consequently good genes, with the
benefit of those genes being passed on to offspring. Females may want a male with a masculine face
i.e. prominent cheekbones and a large jaw which shows high levels of testosterone, a hormone
which is costly to release so only those that are most healthy can survive with its release. Males
desire large eyes and breasts, both of which depict a female that is youthful and fertile, both
desirable traits in a partner.
What physical features do males look for in a female partner?
Good health and reproductive capacity. males desire large eyes, breasts, both which depict a young and fertile female.
What physical features do females look for in males?
Good health and good genes. Typically very masculine features that display high levels of testosterone- eg prominent cheekbones, large jaw, low voice and muscular.
What behavioral features do females prefer in males?
Gift giving- this shows a resource commitment. This is desired by females as the male can provide food so the offspring can survive.
Other factors include having similar interests- as it is known for a lasting and sustainable relationship which is beneficial for raising children.
The consequences of sexual selection
Males may be more likely to be promiscuous because the more females they impregnate the more chances of reproductive success they have.
Females are less likely to become promiscuous as they have a higher risk of poor offspring if they behave promiscuously.
STUDY: Buss
Most men have been found to marry
younger women which reflects a natural
preference for those that are youthful and fertile
Advantages to the evolutionary explanation
Attraction to faces : agreement across cultures
as to what makes a face attractive.
Extension: preferences of women may vary
according to menstrual cycle: attracted to
masculine men when feeling fertile as they are
strongest and offer best genetics. Attracted to
feminine cooperative men afterwards, who can
help raise children
STUDY: Clark and Hatfield
: 75% of men agreed to have
sex with stranger, supporting how short term
male mating preferences have evolved.
Disadvantages of the evolutionary explanation:
Research focuses on what people say they prefer
rather than what they actually choose in a
relationship.
Reductionism: behaviour is reduced to natural
responses from evolution.
STUDY: Harvey and May
Ethnic differences in testicle
size = adaptive differences in mating strategies
from different ancestral populations
