Sexual Selection And Human Reproductive Behaviour

Question 1

What is anisogamy

Answer 1

Differences between male and female sex cells

Question 2

Explain male cells

Answer 2

Male, mobile and continuously produced from puberty to old age

Question 3

Explain female cells

Answer 3

Larger, static and produced at intervals for a limited number of years

Question 4

What is anisogamy related to

Answer 4

Mating strategies

Question 5

What are the consequences of anisogamy

Answer 5

There are plenty of fertile males but fewer females - giver rise to different mating strategies

Question 6

What is inter-sexual selection

Answer 6

Selection of mates between sexes

Question 7

What is a basic description of female strategy

Answer 7

Quality over quantities

Question 8

What is the female strategy

Answer 8

Females make a greater investment of time, commitment and other resources before, during and after birth

Question 9

Explain the female strategy

Answer 9

need to be choosier than males to seek a male who will provide health offspring and support them with resources

Question 10

What determines attributes that are passed on?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What is the runaway process in regard to the example of height

Answer 11

Over time this leads to taller and taller men being selected

Question 12

What is intra-sexual selection

Answer 12

Selection of mates within sexes (e.g. Males competing with other males for mates)

Question 13

What is a basic description of female strategy

Answer 13

Quantity over quality

Question 14

What is the male strategy

Answer 14

Males do best if they reproduce as frequently as possible

Question 15

Explain the make strategy

Answer 15

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

Question 16

What is the impact on mating behaviour from intra-sexual behaviour

Answer 16

Intra-sexual selection pressures lead to certain patterns of human reproductive behaviour

Question 17

What are the patterns of human reproductive behaviour

Answer 17

1. Make aggression - the most aggressive males are more likely to reproduce
2. Male preference for youthful and fertile women - signs of fertility leading to reproductive success

Question 18

Name a strength of intra-sexual selection

Answer 18

Buss

Question 19

What did buss do?

Answer 19

surveyed over 10,000 adults in 33 countries asking about partner preference

Question 20

What did Buss find?

Answer 20

Females values resource-related characteristics more than males (e.g. Financial prospects)
Males values reproductive capacity (e.g. Looks and youth)

Question 21

What does Buss say his research supports

Answer 21

Sex differences due to anisogamy and partner preferences derived from the sexual selection theory

Question 22

What was Clark and Hatfield’s study?

Answer 22

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?’

Question 23

What did Clark and Hatfield find?

Answer 23

No female students agreed to requests from males but 75% of males did agree

Question 24

What does Clark and Hatfield’s research support

Answer 24

Female choosiness and that males have evolved a different strategy to ensure their reproductive success

Question 25

What is a limitation of sexual selection

Answer 25

Ignores social and cultural influences - partner preferences have impacted over time by changing social norms and cultural practices- these have occurred too rapidly to be explained in evolutionary terms