Sexual selection Flashcards
Sexual selection
- Evolutionary explanation of why certain attributes or behaviours are passed down if they produce reproductive success
Ansigomy
Differences between male and female sex ells
Inter sexual selection
Describes the strategy that each sex uses to attract the other
- Preferred by females who go for quality over quantity
- This is because it is a much bigger investment for women in terms of time energy
- Must choose a genetically fit partner
Intra sexual selection
Describes the strategies used within sexes to attract males
- Preferred by males quantity over quality
- Competition between males to get the high quality female
Strengths
Evidence that females are more selective
- Clark and Hatfield found that 75% males compared to 0% females would be willing to sleep with a stranger if this stranger co complimented them
Singh
-hip to waist ratio = 0.7
- Demonstrates to mates that the female is fertile and able to carry with birth being easier
- Suggests that some evolutionary pressures are still relevant
Limitaitonas
Social and cultural change
- Women no longer dependent on men and the resources they can provide
- Chang et al found that preferences are a combination of evolution and culture