Sexual selection and human reproductive behaviour Flashcards
What is sexual selection?
The explanation for why some characteristics that might seem disadvantageous are actually advantageous for reproductive behaviour because these behaviours are actually attractive to a potential mate, or, provide an advantage over competitors.
What is anisogamy
Anisogamy is the difference between male and female sex cells.
What sex prefers inter-sexual selection
Females
Why do females prefer inter-sexual selection
Ova (eggs) are rarer than sperm so females often look for quality over quantity in a mate. Both sexes can be picky when it comes to selecting a mate but, the decision is more important for females. Therefore a females optimum mating strategy is to select a genetically fit partner.
What is the ‘sexy sons hypothesis’?
The idea that females mate with someone that the perceive as attractive, so that her sons inherit these characteristic and continue to pass them on.
What sex prefers intra-sexual selection
Males
Why do males prefer intra-sexual selection
Males prefer quantity over quality due to the fact that sperm is a lot less rare. Intra-sexual selection refers to the competition between males to be able to mate with a female. The ‘winner’ of the competition gets to mate with the females and pass on his genes eg size (height) matters and aggression.
What research supports preferences related to anisogamy?
Buss carried out a survey of over 10,000 adults in 33 countries. He asked about several attributes which fits in with the evolutionary theory. He found that females placed greater value on resource-gathering-related characteristic Males valued reproductive capacity (good looks & chastity) and preferred younger mates.
What research supports inter-sexual selection?
Clark and Hartfield showed that female choosiness is a reality of heterosexual relationships. Male and female psychologists went round a university campus and asked if other students would go to bed with them. No females asked said yes and 75% of males said yes, immediately.
What is one disadvantage of this associated with social influences
Berczkei et al. argued that women’s roles have changed within society (the war etc) therefore women no longer need to look for a man with rescource-gathering-related qualities.
