Relationships - 1. The Evolutionary Explanation for Partner Preferences

Question 1

Darwin’s theory of evolution

Answer 1

Natural selection influences the way that species change over time and become increasingly adapted to their environment.
Any characteristic that maximises an individual’s ability to survive and reproduce successfully are higher adapted and are likely to be ‘naturally selected’.
They adapt and change to fit the environment

Question 2

Sexual selection

Answer 2

A view that competition for mates between individuals of the same sex affects the evolution of certain traits.
If a characteristic increases the individual’s chance of reproduction, this characteristic will be adaptive because that animal will have more offspring

Question 3

Characteristics that females are looking for

Answer 3

Characteristics of a mature protector:
- Broad shoulders (strength)
- Facial hair (maturity)
- Height (strength)
- Leadership (maturity)

Question 4

Characteristics that males are looking for

Answer 4

Males are looking for one characteristic, which is fertility (this is indicated by wide hips, showing the completion of puberty and that the female is ready for reproduction)

Question 5

Two types of sexual selection

Answer 5

Intra-sexual selection
Intersexual selection

Question 6

Difference between intra-sexual and intersexual selection

Answer 6

Intra-sexual selection is when the men do the competing.
Intersexual selection is when the women do the choosing.

Question 7

Why will women be more discriminating than men in their choice of sexual partner? (Intersexual)

Answer 7

Because the consequences of mating with an unsuitable partner are greater (pregnancy)

Question 8

Sexy son hypothesis (intersexual)

Answer 8

Over time the women went for men with their desired characteristics, meaning their offspring are getting those genes (E.g. if a woman goes for a tall man, their offspring will be tall, causing a long term growth in the height of men)

Question 9

Who developed the sexy son hypothesis

Answer 9

Fisher

Question 10

Who carried out the university study into intersexual selection?

Answer 10

Clarke and Hatfield

Question 11

University study into intersexual selection

Answer 11

Male and female psychology students were sent out across a university campus.
They approached other students individually with the question: “I have been noticing you around campus. I find you very attractive. Will you go to bed with me tonight?”

Question 12

Results of the university study into intersexual selection

Answer 12

0% of females agreed
75% of males agreed

Question 13

Issues with Clarke and Hatfield’s university study into intersexual selection

Answer 13

Not representative sample as university students may act differently at university compared to other environments.
The situation itself isn’t representative either

Question 14

Who carried out the lonely hearts study to identify differences between males and females?

Answer 14

Waynforth and Dunber

Question 15

What were the lonely hearts advertisements in American newspapers?

Answer 15

Opportunities for men and women to describe the qualities they desired in a potentials partner, whilst cataloguing what they had to offer

Question 16

What did Waynforth and Dunber find from their study of lonely hearts advertisements in American newspapers?

Answer 16

Women more than men tended to offer physical attractiveness and indicators of youth (E.g. flirty, exciting, curvy and sexy)
Men offered resources more than women did (E.g. successful, fit, mature and ambitious) and sought relative youth and physical attractiveness

Question 17

Issues of Waynforth and Dunber’s study into lonely hearts advertisements

Answer 17

Lacks temporal validity as people don’t use newspapers as dating profiles anymore however, the characteristics that men and women promote are roughly the same

Question 18

Who carried research into cultural differences in sexual selection?

Answer 18

Buss

Question 19

3 key findings of Buss’ study into cultural differences in sexual selection

Answer 19

In all 37 samples men rated goods looks of their mate more than women
In all 37 samples males and females preferred the male to be older
In 36/37 samples women rated good financial prospects higher than men did

Question 20

Anisogamy

Answer 20

The difference between males and females and their reproductive cells

Question 21

How does anisogamy affect sexual selection?

Answer 21

Because men have sperm in abundance and women have limited eggs, the reproductive behaviour of males and females is different

Question 22

______ want quality over quantity
______ want quantity over quality

Answer 22

Women want quality over quantity
Men want quantity over quality