Relationships

Question 1

what is sexual selection?

Answer 1

• evolutionary explanation of partner preference

- involves attributes/behaviours that increase reproductive success and may become exaggerated in future offsprings

Question 2

what is human reproductive behaviour?

Answer 2

• refers to behaviours relating to opportunity to reproduce and increase survival chances of genes
• it includes evoluntionary mechanisms underlying or partner preferences like mate choice and mate competition

Question 3

Anisomgamy’s role in sexual selection

Answer 3

• part of sexual selection explanation of human romantic relationships include explaining differences in partner preferences between males and females
• One explanation comes from concept of anisomgamy: differences between male and female gametes

Question 4

Outline differences between female and male sex cells and what do they mean for reproduction?
Anisogamy (A01) - sexual selection

Answer 4

• Males’ sex cells (sperm) produced in large quantities, quickly replenished and created continuously from puberty to old age.
• Females’ sex cells (eggs/ova) require lots of energy to produce, created in limited no. during specific intervals and production only lasts for certain number of fertile years
• differences mean that males and females use different strategies to achieve reproductive success

Question 5

Anisomgamy AO1 (sexual selection)

Answer 5

• before invention of DNA testing, males could never be sure a particular child was theirs. so reproductive success strategy would involve having sex with, and impregnating, as many women as possible
• However, for women, energetically expensive process of producing an egg and carrying child in womb for 9 mnths means she needs to be in a committed relationship with a male who can provide resources for her and child, ensuring child’s survival

Question 6

Anisomgamy can also explain what? (AO1)

Answer 6

• anisomgamy can also explain existence of 2 types of sexual selection: inter-sexual selection and intra-sexual selection

Question 7

Outline Inter-sexual selection (AO1)

Answer 7

• sometimes referred to as the ‘female choice’ because based on idea that e greater investment of time, energy and resources required from a female to raise a child, females need to be more careful when choosing a partner
• they need to be sure their partner will provide the right genetic fit and will be willing to provide resources to support female and child

Question 8

Outline intra-sexual selection (AO1)

Answer 8

• intra-sexual selection is preferred male strategy
• refers to evolutionary developed features that allow mate to compete with other males for female. Winner of this competition reproduces and passes on his genes that contributed to his success to offspring.
  E.G. physically stronger and larger male will be able to fight off his competitor for access to female, so he’ll produce genetically stronger sons
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Question 9

How can Intra-sexual selection also explain physical dimorphism? AO1 - sexual selection

Answer 9

• intra-sexual selection can also explain differences in body size and physical appearance (physical dimorphism)
• as males need to compete w/ other mates for access to fertile mate, sexual selection favours stronger and more aggressive males
• but females don’t need to physically complete for a mate meaning physical strength and aggression will hold no evolutionary advantage for them

Question 10

Evaluation for relationship between sexual selection and human reproductive behaviour: Research support for preferences related to anisogamy

Answer 10

• a strength is that there is research support for preferences related to anisogamy
• researcher conducted survey of large sample of adults across many (33) countries: questions asked related to age and attributes that the evolutionary explanation thinks are important in partner preference
• he found females placed greater value on resources-related characteristics e.g. good financial prospects, ambition than males did. Males valued reproductive capacity like good looks and preferred younger mates.
• findings reflect sex differences in mate strategies due to anisogamy
• they support predictions about partner preference derived from sexual selection theory
• finings can also be applied across very different cultures, reflecting fundamental human preferences which aren’t dependent on cultural influences

Question 11

Evaluation for relationship between sexual selection and human reproductive behaviour: Research support for inter-sexual selection

Answer 11

• further research supports inter-sexual selection
• female choosiness was illustrated by a study where male and female volunteers approached opposite-sex students individually on a university campus, asking: “I’ve noticed you around campus. I find you very attractive. Will you go to bed with me tonight?”
• found marked gender differences in responses: 75% of male students agreed but no female said ‘yes’
• supports evolutionary theory because it suggests females are choosier than males when it comes to selecting partners and that males have evolved a different strategy to ensure reproductive success

Question 12

Evaluation for relationship between sexual selection and human reproductive behaviour: ignores social and cultural influences

Answer 12

• limitation of this theory is that it ignores social and cultural influences on partner preference
• social norms of sexual behaviour have changed drastically over the past century like the availability of contraception
• also, women’s greater role in the work place therefore no longer dependent on a man for resources like finances
• mate preferences are therefore the outcome of a combination of evolutionary, social and cultural norms
• by failing to account for all of them in the explanation, limits it

Question 13

Outline Self-disclosure theory as a factor in romantic relationships (4/6 marks) (including social penetration theory)

Answer 13

• idea that relationship formation is built on trust with another person, which is demonstrated by gradually revealing personal info like thoughts & feelings with someone
• disclosing thoughts & feelings allow partner to reveal their ‘true selves’ which tends to greater intimacy & satisfaction in relationship
• self-disclosure is a central concept in social penetration (sp) theory proposed by Altman & Taylor (1973). This theory claims that by gradually revealing emotions and experiences in a reciprocal way, people gain greater understanding of each other & display trust, therefore ‘penetrating’ deeper into each other’s lives
• self-disclosure has 2 dimensions: breadth and depth. SP theory uses ‘onion metaphor’ to describe these dimensions. At first, people share a lot of info about themselves