Relatiionships - evolutionary explanations Flashcards
evolutionary explanations for partner preferences
What happened in the critical trials of Asch’s study compared to the non-critical trials?
Participants conformed more in critical trials than in non-critical trials
Critical trials involved participants giving incorrect answers, influencing others.
What are the three types of attachments from Ainsworth’s research?
- Secure
- Insecure-avoidant
- Insecure-resistant
Define deprivation.
The loss of something that was previously present.
Define privation.
The absence of something that should be present.
What is the success rate of approaching someone for sex in a student area?
Varies, but generally low.
What does the ‘Era of Evolutionary Adaptation’ refer to?
Attachments being used as a mechanism to survive.
What are Darwin’s two main premises of evolution?
- Survival
- Reproduction
What is sexual selection?
The process by which individuals select mates based on specific traits.
Give examples of traits that attract humans as potential mates.
- Good dancing skills
- Physical fitness
- Ambition and intellect
- Bodily attractiveness
- Empathy
How many sperm can men produce in a single ejaculation?
Approximately 100 million.
How many eggs do women produce over their reproductive lifetime?
About 300 eggs.
What is intra-sexual selection?
Members of one sex compete for access to the other sex.
What is inter-sexual selection?
One sex chooses from a group of prospective mates based on attractiveness.
List male strategies for attracting a mate.
- Courtship rituals
- Size
- Sperm competition
- Mate guarding
- Sneak copulation
List female strategies for attracting a mate.
- Sexy sons hypothesis
- Handicap hypothesis
- Courtship
What are ‘Cads’ and ‘Dads’ in terms of male strategies?
- Cads: low investment males seeking to maximize mating opportunities
- Dads: high investment males committed to one partner
What physical traits are attractive to men?
- Youthfulness
- Health indicators
What physical traits are attractive to women?
- Resources
- Kindness
What is the ideal waist-to-hip ratio noted in research?
Approximately 0.7.
What did Buss find regarding partner preferences in different cultures?
Men preferred younger, physically attractive females; women preferred ambitious and older men with vast resources.
What does the Sexy Sons Hypothesis suggest?
Females select males deemed physically attractive to pass on desirable traits to offspring.
What is one criticism of evolutionary theories of partner preferences?
They do not explain homosexual relationships or individuals who do not want children.
What is a potential conflict between natural selection and sexual selection?
Some sexual characteristics may inhibit survival traits.
True or False: Physical attractiveness is unimportant in mate selection.
False.
