Sexual Selection And Human Reproductive Behaviour Flashcards
What is anisogamy
Differences between male and female sex cells
Explain male cells
Male, mobile and continuously produced from puberty to old age
Explain female cells
Larger, static and produced at intervals for a limited number of years
What is anisogamy related to
Mating strategies
What are the consequences of anisogamy
There are plenty of fertile males but fewer females - giver rise to different mating strategies
What is inter-sexual selection
Selection of mates between sexes
What is a basic description of female strategy
Quality over quantities
What is the female strategy
Females make a greater investment of time, commitment and other resources before, during and after birth
Explain the female strategy
need to be choosier than males to seek a male who will provide health offspring and support them with resources
What determines attributes that are passed on?
Preference of both sexes e.g. If height is a marker of fitness in males, females who choose the tallest mates will have greater reproductive success and innate preferences are passed on
What is the runaway process in regard to the example of height
Over time this leads to taller and taller men being selected
What is intra-sexual selection
Selection of mates within sexes (e.g. Males competing with other males for mates)
What is a basic description of female strategy
Quantity over quality
What is the male strategy
Males do best if they reproduce as frequently as possible
Explain the make strategy
Competition is necessary as females are a limited resource are are choosy
Males who compete successfully pass on their genes to the next generation and therefore those traits are perpetuated
What is the impact on mating behaviour from intra-sexual behaviour
Intra-sexual selection pressures lead to certain patterns of human reproductive behaviour
What are the patterns of human reproductive behaviour
- Make aggression - the most aggressive males are more likely to reproduce
- Male preference for youthful and fertile women - signs of fertility leading to reproductive success
Name a strength of intra-sexual selection
Buss
What did buss do?
surveyed over 10,000 adults in 33 countries asking about partner preference
What did Buss find?
Females values resource-related characteristics more than males (e.g. Financial prospects)
Males values reproductive capacity (e.g. Looks and youth)
What does Buss say his research supports
Sex differences due to anisogamy and partner preferences derived from the sexual selection theory
What was Clark and Hatfield’s study?
Sent students to approach other students and ask ‘I have been noticing you around campus. I find you to be very attractive. Would you go to bed with me tonight?’
What did Clark and Hatfield find?
No female students agreed to requests from males but 75% of males did agree
What does Clark and Hatfield’s research support
Female choosiness and that males have evolved a different strategy to ensure their reproductive success
