Lesson 1 - Evolutionary Explanations

Question 1

How are partner preferences driven (Evolutionary Preferences)

Answer 1

According to evolutionary psychology, partner preferences are driven by sexual selection. This means that both males and females choose partners in order to maximise their chances of reproductive success. Individuals with traits that maximise reproductive success (e.g. strength, height, aggression, wide hips etc.) are more likely to survive and pass on the genes responsible for their success.

Question 2

What is anisogamy (Evolutionary Preferences)

Answer 2

Males have gametes (sperm cells), which are able to reproduce quickly with
little energy expenditure. Female gametes (eggs or ova) are much less plentiful and require far more energy to produce. This difference is known as anisogamy.

Question 3

How do males select partners (Evolutionary Preferences)

Answer 3

Generally males use intra-sexual selection

Question 4

How do females select partners (Evolutionary Preferences)

Answer 4

Generally females use inter-sexual selection.

Question 5

Intra-Sexual Selection (Evolutionary Preferences)

Answer 5

Intra-sexual selection is where members of one sex (usually male) compete
with one another for access to the other sex. This leads to male-female
dimorphism, which is accentuation of secondary sexual characteristics in those with greater reproductive fitness.

Question 6

Males best evolutionary strategy (Evolutionary Preferences)

Answer 6

Intra-sexual selection is where members of one sex (usually male) compete
with one another for access to the other sex. This leads to male-female
dimorphism, which is accentuation of secondary sexual characteristics in those with greater reproductive fitness.

Question 7

Mate Guarding (Evolutionary Preferences)

Answer 7

Males might engage in mate guarding where they guard their female partner to prevent them mating with anyone else.

Question 8

Cuckoldry (Evolutionary Preferences)

Answer 8

Males are very fearful of having to raise another man’s child, this is called cuckoldry.

Question 9

Inter-Sexual Selection (Evolutionary Preferences)

Answer 9

Inter-sexual selection is where members of one sex (usually female) choose
from available prospective mates (usually males) according to attractiveness

Question 10

Females best evolutionary strategy (Evolutionary Preferences)

Answer 10

Anisogamy suggests that a women’s best evolutionary strategy is to be selective when choosing a partner. Females will tend to seek a male who displays characteristics of physical health, high status, and resources. Thus the male partner is able to protect them and provide for their children. Although this ability may have equated to muscular strength in our evolutionary past, in modern society it is more likely to relate to occupation, social class and wealth.

Question 11

Strengths of Evolutionary Explanations

Answer 11

Buss (1989) conducted a survey of over 10,000 adults in 33 countries and
found that females reported valuing resource-based characteristics (such as
occupation) whilst men valued good looks and preferred younger partners.

Clark and Hatfield (1989) conducted a now infamous study where male and
female psychology students were asked to approach fellow students of Florida State University (of the opposite sex) and ask them for one of three things; to go on a date, to go back to their apartment, or to go to bed with them. About 50% of both men and women agreed to the date, but whilst 69% of men agreed to visit the apartment and 75% agreed to go to bed with them, only 6% of women agreed to go to the apartment and 0% accepted the more intimate offer

Question 12

Weaknesses of Evolutionary Explanations

Answer 12

The evolutionary approach is deterministic suggesting that we have little
free-will in partner choice. However, everyday experience tells us we do have
some control over our partner preferences.

Evolutionary approaches to mate preferences are socially sensitive in that
they promote traditional (sexist) views regarding what are ‘natural’ male and
female behaviours which do not apply to modern society. Women are now more career orientated and independent therefore will not look for resourceful partners as much as they may have had to in decades past. Additionally, the availability of contraception means that evolutionary pressures are less relevant.

Evolutionary theory makes little attempt to explain other types of
relationships, e.g. non-heterosexual relationships, and cultural variations in
relationships which exist across the world, e.g. arranged marriages.