Sexual Selection

Question 1

Sexual Selection

Answer 1

Is an evolutionary explanation of partner preference. Attributes or behaviors that increase reproductive success are passed on and may become exaggerated over generations.

Question 2

Human reproductive behaviour

Answer 2

Any behaviour which is related to opportunities for reproduction (thereby increasing likelihood of gene survival). This includes behaviours involved in inter-sexual selection and intra-sexual selection.

Question 3

Anisogamy

Answer 3

difference between male and female sex cells. Male gametes require little energy to produce whilst female gametes require a huge investment of time and energy. Anisogamy leads to intra-sexual and inter-sexual selection.

Question 4

Intra-sexual selection

Answer 4

Also known as mate competition and involves one gender (usually the male) competing with each other for “access” to members of the opposite sex - victors mate and pass on their genes - winning traits are passed on to the next generation.

Question 5

Sexual dimorphism

Answer 5

males have characteristics that serve to attract females. This supports the idea that males are competing for the attention of females.

Question 6

Inter-sexual selection

Answer 6

the idea that females are choosing certain qualities they like. Partner preferences evolve in a population, e.g. tall males. Over time, the number of tall males would increase.

Question 7

+ P - Research support for anisogamy

Answer 7

E - Buss - surveyed over 10,000 adults in 33 countries. Consisted of questions related to age and attributes that evolutionary theory predicts is important in partner preferences.
E - Found females are more likely to value resource related characteristics. Males are more likely to value reproductive capacity
L - This shows that mate strategies are based on anisogamy.

Question 8

+ P - Research support for intersexual selection

Answer 8

E - Clark and Hatfield - females’ choosiness is a factor in heterosexual relationships. Psych students approached people saying “I find you very attractive. Will you sleep with me?”.
E - No females agreed, 75% men agreed.
L - This suggests support for intersexual selection as females were choosier than males.

Question 9

• P - The theory doesn’t account for major social and cultural changes which may affect reproductive behaviour.

Answer 9

E - Recently, there have been changes such as the lack of female dependency on a partner.
E - This shows that there have been changes to mate choice preference.
L - This suggests that mate choice is likely to be influenced by more factors than just evolutionary preferences.