L2 - Evolutionary/Sociobiological/Sexual Selection

Question 1

Define sexual selection

Answer 1

Natural selection arising through preference by one sex for certain characteristics in individuals of the opposite sex

Question 2

Why are females choosy?

Answer 2

Eggs are rare

Males need wealth and good resources to look after them and offspring

Question 3

What is the sexy sins hypothesis

Answer 3

Picking certain traits like height so they can be passed down to sons increasing their likelihood of being sexually selected

Question 4

Traits females look for:

Answer 4

Height

Genetically fit and strong

Question 5

Why do males sexually select several females?

Answer 5

To increase likelihood of reproducing many offspring and genes being passed down

Question 6

Traits males look for:

Answer 6

Small waist
Curvy hips
Large breasts

Question 7

Males engage in

Answer 7

Mate guarding to prevent cuckoldry

Question 8

Describe mate guarding

Answer 8

Males preventing female partner from reproducing with another male

Question 9

Describe cuckoldry

Answer 9

Fear that female partner will produce another man’s offspring which they will have to raise

Question 10

Men appear…

Answer 10

Big and strong

Question 11

Why do males appear how they do?

Answer 11

To make them advantageous over other males

Increase likelihood of being sexually selected

Question 12

+ of sexual selection

Answer 12

Singh found males have a waist:hip ratio preference of 0:7

Visible sign of fertility for SS

Question 13

• related to alpha bias

Answer 13

Overestimated gender differences
DNA evidence shows females are just as competitive as males
Males and females look for similar traits, e.g. kindness

Question 14

• related to homosexuality

Answer 14

Homosexuals are unable to reproduce with each other but still form relationships
Get into relationships for other reasons
Evolutionary determinism

Question 15

Sexual selection research procedure

Answer 15

10,000 participants
37 cultures
Rate 18 characteristics from 0 (irrelevant) to 4 (v important)

Question 16

Buss’s findings of males

Answer 16

Wanted fertility, younger than them

Question 17

Buss’s findings of females

Answer 17

Wanted males to have financial prospects, resources, ambition

Question 18

Buss’s findings of both genders

Answer 18

Intelligence and kindness

Question 19

• of research related to using female undergraduates

Answer 19

Likely to be high earners so want a male to match their income and educational background
Weak evidence that females want men to financially support

Question 20

+ related to culture

Answer 20

Used a variety of cultures
Eliminates culture bias to one/few cultures
Increases universality

Question 21

• related to preferences

Answer 21

As,ed participants preferences not actual mate choices
Mate choices may be different to preferences
Lacks validity

Question 22

Other negative evaluation points

Answer 22

Used questionnaires

Sample was self-selected and opportunistic