Sexual Selection

Question 1

Test card

Answer 1

Natural selection 
Intra and inter 
Buss
Miller
Facial preferences 
Penton-voak 
Roberts 
Haselton  
Miller 
Short term mating 
Clark and Hatfield 
Buss and Schmitt 
Ult vs Prox

Question 2

Natural selection

Answer 2

Reproductive fitness is at the heart of the evolutionary process
Successful mating means having to select the right mate, out compete rivals and successful conception
Natural selection- passing on of advantageous traits
Peacock tail - must fulfil a purpose

Question 3

Inter and Intra selection

Answer 3

Intra

• males compete
• In areas of preference of the females
• men evolved strong jaw lines
• lead to victory

Inter

• between the sexes
• select a man who shows the best indicators of good genes and traits
• these evolve into the norm
• we are preprogrammed to attend to these displays

Question 4

Buss

Answer 4

If mate preferences were universal
10,000 pps
37cultures
Males reported to prefer younger attractive females
Females wanted strong men with resources
Allegedly men wanted wide hips so childbirth was easier and so increased survival chance of the baby
Resources- child provided for
Both genders engage in behaviour that increases reproductive success

Questionnaires could easily be misunderstood- translations
Self report inaccurate

Question 5

Facial preferences

Answer 5

Chose mates due to indicators of health and fertility
Attractiveness linked to good genes
Masculine features - large jaw indicates testosterone
Testosterone suppressed the immune system so only healthy males would be able to display this indicator

Question 6

Penton-Voak

Answer 6

Female mate choice varies across her menstrual cycle
Feminised face in non fertile period as it indicates a loving partner - good for long term
Masculine face in fertile period as it indicates good genes to pass on
Sexual selection may favour women with mixed mating strategy
Masculine male genes and feminine male to look after her

Question 7

Roberts

Answer 7

Found that faces of females and their scent becomes more attractive when in her most fertile stage

Question 8

Haselton

Answer 8

Women are judged to dress more attractively when at in the high risk of conception phase
Red/short skirts/low cut
Supported by other studies that found confidence increases too

Question 9

Miller

Answer 9

Compared the earnings of lap dancers on the pill and those menstruating naturally
No different in no fertile stage
Fertile stage - natural earned more
Men some how unconsciously are attracted to more fertile women
This would increase their reproductive success

Question 10

Short term mating

Answer 10

Strategies have evolved for increasing success in short time
Gender differences occur due to difference in gametes
Millions of sperm and suffer little cost of reproduction so they maximise mating opportunities and increase reproductive fitness
Females have limited no. of eggs and suffer high costs(pregnant/poor quality baby/no partner) - choosy about finding a mate

Question 11

Clark and Hatfield

Answer 11

Will you sleep with me study?
Found sex differences in motivation for casual sex
Approached and asked
No females agreed
75% males did
Males have evolved mechanisms to ensure success in short term mating

Question 12

Buss and Schmitt

Answer 12

Men showed a decreased appreciation of attractiveness in their casual partner after sex
An evolved adaption that prevent men ‘wasting’ time
Allowing them to sow their seed as much as possible

Question 13

Ult vs Prox

Answer 13

Past to explain present
Casual sex would result in high cost
Now we have contraception
Alters female sexual behaviour

Question 14

Alpha bias

Answer 14

Maximising the difference between the sexes
Men = uncaring, irresponsible, sleep around
Women = monogamous
Not the case in reality