RELATIONSHIPS- sexual selection

Question 1

who thought of sexual selection?

Answer 1

darwin

Question 2

what did darwin say about sexual selection?

Answer 2

species do not just evolve through natural selection but also through sexual selection

Question 3

what is sexual selection-darwin?

Answer 3

a view that competition for mates between individuals the same sex affects the evolution of certain traits

Question 4

what is s.s?

Answer 4

any physical trait that enhances reproductive success will gradualy be passed down and enhanced over evolutionary time

Question 5

what did darwin propose?

Answer 5

animals possess features that make them attractive to opposite sex and allow them to compete better with members of same sex

Question 6

example of darwins proposal? & who said it ?

Answer 6

pagel et al
relative hairlessness of human beings being compared by great apes feature allowed not only to keep cool but to advertise good hygiene.

Question 7

what does this example explain?

Answer 7

trait is desirable in sexual selection. greater loss of body hair in women would been through greater pressures on women from s.s. in comparison to men

Question 8

what about the peacocks tail?

Answer 8

peacocks tail goes against as offers no advantage. it is heavier more noticable by predators and dont help fly better

Question 9

what did zahavi propose?

Answer 9

proposed “handicap principle” in support of s.s

Question 10

what did handicap principle state?

Answer 10

if any indicator too costly to produce and still displayed=sign of good genes and health as peacocks able to portray bright feathers and still survive= more attractive to females and such rules apply to humans

Question 11

what also happens between male and female for s.s.?

Answer 11

different s.s pressures occurs between genders due to differences in gametes (eggs+sperm)

Question 12

what about females for the different pressures?

Answer 12

limited no. eggs each representing huge investment during and after preg but certain of paternity. due to this must be choosy finding strong healthy males with resurces

Question 13

what about males for the different pressures?

Answer 13

natural selection favours them maximising paternity opportunities. have millions of sperm h.w can never be certain of paternity and suffer little cost to reproduction

Question 14

what are the 2 types of s.s that take place in human reproductive behaviour?

Answer 14

intrasexual & intersexual

Question 15

what does intrasexual occur in?

Answer 15

males who compete with each other 4 access to females

Question 16

what is intrasexual as a consequence of this?

Answer 16

as consequence men have evolved indicators to show strenghth and testosterone that women seek

Question 17

examples of males evolved indicators for women?

Answer 17

strong jaw, high cheek bones, triangular backs and wide shoulders

Question 18

intrasexual- what can high levels of test do?

Answer 18

high levels of testosterone can damage immune h.w displayed in strong male (handicap principle)

Question 19

what did thornhill et al say? (intrasexual)?

Answer 19

found women prefer males with traits suggesting indicators of s.s for humans. men on other hand look for signs of fertlity , think youth and physical attraction as maximises reproductive success for them

Question 20

what does intersexual occur in?

Answer 20

women who then go to select men who show best indicators of providing right genes for offspring,ability to protext her & child and status and resources

Question 21

what do psychologists propose?

Answer 21

it is evolutionary b that then shapes mates selection in males and demales.

Question 22

what should males look for in theory in contrary to psychologists for evolutionary b?

Answer 22

fertility,youth,physical att

Question 23

what should females look for in theory in contrary to psychologists for evolutionary b?

Answer 23

strength,masculinity,able to provide and protext

Question 24

what is the research for s.s?

Answer 24

buss et al
dumber et al
thornhill et al
singh et al

Question 25

what did buss et al do?

Answer 25

conducted cross cultural study over 37 cultures w/over 10,000 people on mate preference. males reported to prefer younger physically attractive females & females= physically strong & athletic ones w emphasis on resources. both engaging on b of reproductive process

Question 26

does buss et al support s.s?

Answer 26

yes

Question 27

critiscms of buss et al study?

Answer 27

q used easily misunderstood across cultures
self reports=inaccurate s well as translation problems occuring through 3rd part translations
mate pref may not be indicative of what happens in real life

Question 28

what did dumber et al do?

Answer 28

look at 4 american newspapers w over 900 personal ads reviewing mate preference. women offered youth and physical and financial status & resources

Question 29

does dumber et al support s.s?

Answer 29

yes

Question 30

critiscm of dumber et al?

Answer 30

based on americans (cultural bias)

in addition kindness and intell rated higher importance for both sources.

Question 31

what did thornhill et al do?

Answer 31

found symmetrical faces were sought by both genders and symm= strong genetic fitness and strong resistance. women also sought men w masc features while men on women with childlike feat - indicate youth and fertility. both genders engage in b in these studies that increase reproductive success

Question 32

does thornhill et al support s.s?

Answer 32

yes

Question 33

what did singh et al do?

Answer 33

found men preferred waist to hip ratio 0.7 across cultures. typical hourglass and a sign of fetility

Question 34

does sign et al support s.s?

Answer 34

yes

Question 35

eval of s.s theory? (1)

Answer 35

beneficial as helps to understand human b as some things may be biologically programmed due to nature than nurture and sheds light on mate pref

Question 36

eval of s.s theory (2)?

Answer 36

although show culture pref of individ, not representative of what acc happens in real life could be social/cultural factors playing role aswell as opportunites avail for both genders within social circle which not factored in.

Question 37

eval of s.s theory (3)?

Answer 37

gender bias, assume men likely to cheat on partners due to genetic programme. not possible for men without willing women . also cant explain why women cheat and goes against ideal strat of a mate provide support long term.- cuckoldy providing as possible reason = not scientific as based on reason.

Question 38

s.s eval number 3 also?

Answer 38

post hoc and difficult to post hoc evidence- s.s theory cannot be proven /disporven either way.

Question 39

what did popper argue no.3 eval?

Answer 39

unscientific theories= purely speculative

Question 40

s.s eval number 4?

Answer 40

evolutionary theories can be argued as reductionist as simply mate choice down to genetic makeup. partner choice= more complex such as cultural/sociely. this theory driven by nature.

Question 41

s.s eval number 5?

Answer 41

deterministic as suggests human s.s prefernces=genetically programmed not take into account ability of concious though which gives free will to make choices ourselves.