L1 - Evolutionary explanations

Question 1

what are evolutionary explanations of partner preferences?

Answer 1

partner preferences are driven by SEXUAL SELECTION - this means males and females choose partners in order to MAXIMISE THEIR REPRODUCTIVE SUCCESS

Question 2

what are some traits that that could maximise reproductive success?

Answer 2

STRENGTH, HEIGHT, AGGRESSION, WIDE HIPS - individuals with these TRAITS are MORE LIKELY to survive and PASS ON THE GENES responsible for their success according to this theory

Question 3

male gametes

Answer 3

MALES HAVE GAMETES (SPERM CELLS) which are able to REPRODUCE QUICKLY with LITTLE EXPENDITURE

Question 4

female gametes

Answer 4

FEMALE GAMETES (EGGS or OVA) are MUCH LESS PLENTIFUL, also REQUIRE FAR MORE ENERGY TO PRODUCE

Question 5

what’s the difference between male and female gametes called?

Answer 5

anisogamy

Question 6

what happens as a result of anisogamy?

Answer 6

males and females use DISTINCT STRATEGIES to CHOOSE A PARTNER - males use INTRA SEXUAL SELECTION and females use INTER SEXUAL SELECTION

Question 7

intra sexual selection

Answer 7

this is where members of ONE SEX (usually male) COMPETE WITH ONE ANOTHER for ACCESS to the OTHER SEX

Question 8

what does intra sexual selection lead to?

Answer 8

MALE FEMALE DIMORPHISM - the ACCENTUATION of SECONDARY SEXUAL CHARACTERISTICS in those with GREATER REPRODUCTIVE FITNESS

Question 9

what does anisogamy suggest is males’ best evolutionary strategy?

Answer 9

ANISOGAMY suggests that MALES’ BEST STRATEGY is to have AS MANY PARTNERS AS POSSIBLE because they are in COMPETITION with their OTHER MALE COUNTERPARTS to be the MOST ATTRACTIVE MATE - this gives them the BEST CHANCE OF PASSING ON THEIR GENES

Question 10

what is mate guarding?

Answer 10

males MIGHT ENGAGE IN MATE GUARDING where they GUARD THEIR FEMALE PARTNER to PREVENT THEM FROM MATING WITH ANYONE ELSE. Males do this to try and PREVENT CUCKOLDRY

Question 11

cuckoldry

Answer 11

males are VERY FEARFUL of having to RAISE ANOTHER MAN’S CHILD

Question 12

inter sexual selection

Answer 12

where members of ONE SEX (usually female) CHOOSE FROM AVAILABLE POTENTIAL MATES (usually males) ACCORDING TO ATTRACTIVENESS

Question 13

what does anisogamy suggest is females’ best evolutionary strategy?

Answer 13

a WOMAN’S BEST STRATEGY is to BE SELECTIVE when choosing a partner, females tend to seek males who POSSESS QUALITIES such as FINANCIAL STABILITY, STRENGTH and HIGH STATUS so that they can PROVIDE FOR THE FAMILY

Question 14

+ BUSS (EVALUATION OF EVOLUTIONARY EXPLANATIONS OF PARTNER PREFERENCES)

Answer 14

BUSS conducted a SURVEY of OVER 1000 ADULTS and found that FEMALES REPORTED VALUING RESOURCE BASED CHARACTERISTICS MUCH MORE THAN MEN WHO VALUED GOOD LOOKS AND YOUNGER PARTNERS

Question 15

+ CLARK AND HATFIELD (EVALUATION OF EVOLUTIONARY EXPLANATIONS OF PARTNER PREFERENCES)

Answer 15

Conducted a STUDY where MALE and FEMALE PSYCHOLOGY STUDENTS were asked to APPROACH FELLOW STUDENTS AT THEIR UNIVERISTY (of the opposite sex) and ASK FOR ONE OF THREE THINGS.

GO ON A DATE, GO BACK TO THEIR APPARTMENT, or GO TO BED WITH THEM. 50% of BOTH MEN AND WOMEN AGREED TO THE DATE, 69% of MEN AGREED TO VISIT THE APPARTMENT and 75% AGREED TO GO TO BED WITH THEM, ONLY 6% OF WOMEN AGREED TO GO TO THE APPARTMENT and 0% ACCEPTED THE MORE INTIMATE OFFER

Question 16

• DETERMINISITC (EVALUATION OF EVOLUTIONARY EXPLANATIONS OF PARTNER PREFERENCES)

Answer 16

EVOLUTIONARY APPROACH IS DETERMINISTIC, suggests that we have LITTLE FREE WILL IN PARTNER CHOICE - however EVERYDAY EXPERIENCE tells us we DO HAVE SOME CONTROL OVER OUR PARTNER PREFERENCES

Question 17

• SEXIST (EVALUATION OF EVOLUTIONARY EXPLANATIONS OF PARTNER PREFERENCES)

Answer 17

EVOLUTIONARY APPROACHES are SOCIALLY SENSITIVE in that they PROMOTE SEXIST VIEWS regarding what are NATURAL MALE AND FEMALE BEHAVIOURS which DON’T APPLY TO MODERN SOCIETY.

Women NO LONGER LOOK FOR RESOURCEFUL MALES AS MUCH AS THEY HAD TO IN THE PAST because they are EARNING MORE THEMSELVES

Question 18

• OTHER TYPES OF RELATIONSHIPS (EVALUATION OF EVOLUTIONARY EXPLANATIONS OF PARTNER PREFERENCES)

Answer 18

Evolutionary theory makes LITTLE ATTEMPT TO EXPLAIN OTHER TYPES OF RELATIONSHIPS: E.G HOMOSEXUAL and it IGNORES CULTURAL VARIATION in relationships where DIFFERENT FACTORS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN RESOURCES such as FAMILY VALUES etc