Love and Sex PArt 2 Flashcards
Beauty
an external cue for the biological fitness of other people (especially as mates)
Criteria for Beauty (for both sexes)
health absence of deformities skin teeth hair symmetry features of average size and shape
Why symmetry?
indication of successful development
Average Effect
average phenotype is what natural selection is “trying” to achieve
Male Faces
effects of testosterone on jaw and brow ridge
Female Faces
Effects of youth and nulliparity(eyes, lips, skin)
Puzzle of male beauty
trouble getting consensus
high standards
contradictory findings: masculine and feminization can make a man more attractive
possible resolution: women find men more attractive when ovulating
Beautiful Bodies
waist-hip ratio: men-.9; women- .7
cross-cultural importance of ^THIS (shape) over size
supernormal Stimuli
exaggerate magnitude of psychologically effective physical cues
Jealousy Hypotheses (males and females)
Males: uncertainty of paternity (cost of cuckoldry)
females: risk of rivals for male investment
Triggers for jealousy (male and female)
Male: sexual infidelity worst
Female: Emotional infidelity worst
2 reasons for jealousy
intimidate partner into being faithful
intimidate romantic rivals to stay away
Lust
testosterone-sensitive circuits
(midbrain—->hypothalamus—-> amygdala)
(increases in both sexes though males have more testosterone)
Romantic Desire
dopamine-sensitive mesolimbic circuits
(midbrain—>hypothalamus—>ventral striatum(basal ganglia))
ie. seeking wanting craving addiction
Companionate Love
vasopressin and oxytocin (hypothalamus & pituitary)
maternal bonding love
social constructionist view
romantic love is a recent invention
paradoxical tactics
make a course of action involuntary to convince a skeptical target
Confluence of Interest Among Spouses
Mutualism(good for me AND you)
same offspring
virtuous circle (positive feedback loop of selfish interest in others survival)
Ultimate Confluence of interests
fates of husband and wife are identical if:
- both are monogamous
- both favor their own children over relatives
- both die at the same time
Predicts: ideal husband and wife should value other's life happiness as equivalent to one's own sources of marital strife: -inlaws -age difference -infidelity
