social psychology part one dating

Question 1

1. Describe how relationships can be perceived as social exchanges.

Answer 1

Women offer what men want and vice versa.
Men seek: attractiveness, youth, fertility.
Women offer: attractiveness, youth, fertility
Women seek: masculinity, maturity, affluence.
Men seek: maturity, commitment, affluence.

Question 2

1. Describe the basic notion of inclusive fitness and the 3 things we must do to satisfy our “biological imperative.”

Answer 2

A basic motive of evolution- to pass on our genes. 3 requirements to successfully satisfy our biological imperative: survive to sexual maturity. Procreate. Get offspring to sexual maturity

Question 3

1. Compare and contrast the optimal sexual strategies of men and women.

Answer 3

For women – genetic packet: ova (eggs)
Availability: 1 per month
Life supply: approx. 400. Minus 9 for each success
Optimal strategy: selective. Get the best possible partner.

For men – genetic packet: sperm
Availability: millions per minute
Life supply: infinite
Optimal strategy: opportunistic. As many as possible as often as possible.

Question 4

1. Describe the family option and how it fits the evolutionary notion of a social exchange.

Answer 4

Men abandon the opportunistic strategy for paternal investment. Women provide sexual exclusivity: men gain paternal certainty for their investment.
Men want healthy, young mate for maximum reproduction opportunities
Women want strong, intelligent mate for protection, security, and resources.

Question 5

1. Describe dating rituals as competitive strategies.

Answer 5

Women determine “shopping list” of desirable attributes – genetic pressure is on the women
Women create male competition. Men demonstrate suitability as husband and father. Women select “winners”

Question 6

1. Explain how evolution may have determined our perception of attractive physiques.

Answer 6

Men prefer hourglass figure. Women prefer triangle figure.

Question 7

1. Describe and explain the beauty bias.

Answer 7

The most important factor is in initial attraction – positive stereotypes: “you can tell a book by its cover”, are seen as healthy, happy, successfully, and socially skilled.

Physical beauty is correlated with: more friends, more dates. Other social advantages (e.g. occupational, judicial)

Question 8

1. Explain why there may be a downside to beauty, with special focus on the possible self-esteem dilemma.

Answer 8

Maintenance: social advantage with an “expiry date”
Negative stereotypes: dumb, vain, arrogant. Object of envy, jealousy.
Self-esteem dilemma: discounting praise and positive feedback.

Question 9

1. Identify the most attractive act as judged by both men and women.

Answer 9

Sense of humour