Lecture 7 (8) Flashcards
What are the three mating systems
Polygyny = one male, many women.
Monogamy = one male one woman.
Polyandry = one woman, many men
Discuss the history of mating in terms of the three mating systems
Polygyny, then mild polygyny. Back to some extreme polygyny when the pyramids were being built, with some having 867 children then recently to monogamy/mild polygyny and seial monogamy.
Discuss rates of mating systems in the world
85% of societies have allowed polygyny. Many societies used to be more polygynous historically, however it is illegal and/or extremely rare or not common in most countries. With minortity allowing polygyny and most of which is in Afirca.
Discuss sex differences that influence marriage systems
Marriage systems vary between cultures, and seem to be dependent on specific environmental and cultural differences; polygyny is a common system in humans and some argue monogamy has to be enforced through laws in order to prevent concentration of power. If female reproductive success is a functino of male wealth, a woman can do better as a second wife of a wealthy man than a less wealthy man. (polygyny threshold model)
Why aren’t cultures always polygynous
Low (1998) suggestesd in measures of polygyny in humans that polygyny will only be favoured by a woman if there is a large difference between the quality of males. If resources can be monopolised and/or there are conditions that emphasise inequalities between men there will be polygyny. Cross-cultural study investigating patterns of polygyny found increased exposure to disease results in greater polygyny.
Who benefits and loses out from polygyny?
Wealthy men, as they monopolise a larger share of reproduction. Women, as they get the choice over who they marry. However, the majority of men lose out as they are excluded from reproduction. The first wives.
Why is polyandry unexpected?
Traditional evolutionary explanation suggests a unique solution to a improverished environmental situation for polyandry to exist. Where men are limited in ability to support wives and offspring.
Give examples of why men would share a wife
Tibet = large farms at high altitude where there are poor productivity and high demand for labour and it is not viable to split a farm into smaller units.
Fraternal polyandry = an economic solution. Monomarital principle (Goldstein, 1976).
Hamiltons rule - assume two brothers are in a polyandrous relationship they are related to eachothers offspring. However, this assumes junior brother will get no offspring otherwise. Senior brothers do worse under polyandry, junior brother does as well as his other option. Parents do better under polyandry, and women do better under polyandry.
What makes a marriage breakdown in polyandry
Economic opportunities for the younger brothers (elder brother have greater reproductive success), allowing them to pursue monogamous marriages but they may have to pay a large economic price.
Number of brothers - as reproductive competition increases, they are more likely to split. And birth-order is negatively correlated with number of children.
What are the problems with polyandry
How do women manage the marriage? Makes reproductive sense for them to stay in polyandrous marriage - but there is jealousy and other emotions involved. May not be about what is adpative but about what is economically viable = long-term strategy survival.
Discuss sociosexuality
Low sociosexuality would suggests a marriage, stable boyfriend or father of children. High sociosexuality would be one-night stands or friends with benefits. Sex differences are due to cultural processes and the prediction is that cultures with more traditional sex roles have bigger sex diferences in sociosexuality.
What is strategic pluralism
Womens sexual stratgies should vary due to costs of benefits of short and long term mating, and the prediction is that in more dangerous and demanding environments there are lower sociosexuality
What is development-attachment theory
Early deprivation encourages opportunistic mating and less parental investment. The prediction is that in more dangerous and demanding environments there are higher sociosexuality
Summarise this lecture.
Human mating systems are highly variable. We can undertsnad this variability as the result of ecological pressures and human mating psychology is a mix of constant and variable. We can undertsnad this as the result of ecological and sociocultural pressures.
