The Evolutionary Explanation Flashcards
What are Evolutionary Explanations of Attraction and Relationship Formation?
-States that humans are innately programmed to be attracted to similar individuals, based on physical and behavioural characteristics.
-They are desireable as they represent ‘survival efficiency’ which strengthens the gene pool of the species.
-Men and women assume roles - e.g. men = strong providers, women = nurturant, child-rearers.
What does Kenrick and Frost (1997) suggest about attraction?
-Physical characteristics are important because of their evolutionary significance.
-e.g. people regarded as physically attractive generally possess characteristics that will in some way guarantee breeding success.
Explain parental certainty
-How confident an offspring produce by a partner is genetically related.
-In humans, females have absolute certainty so can afford to be choosy when selecting a partner.
-Males are never entirely certain it is his sperm, in an attempt to ensure survival of their own offspring they will seek to have sex with as many women as possible.
What is Robert Trivers’ parental investment theory?
-Argues that differences between males and females have their origins in the different amount of parental investment made by them.
-Females make considerable investment in becoming a parent - few gametes, limited fertility, few possible chances of offspring, considerable resources.
-Males contribute very little - many sperm, long fertility time, many possible chances of offspring, little resource.
What is intra-sexual selection?
-When members of one sex (often males) compete for access to other sex.
-Wilson states it is in the ‘best interests’ of men to impregnate as many women as possible.
-Increases chances of his genes passed down to next generation.
-Designed to protect our species.
Who are men programmed to form relationships with?
Youth & Physical Health:
-Represents best opportunity for reproduction and genetic health.
-Smooth skin, lustrous shiny hair - vitamins health and well-being.
Reproductive Fertility:
-Wasit:hip ratio (0.7) - child bearing, health and sexual maturity- according to Singh.
-Full breasts and larger buttocks - maturity, food reserves.
What is inter-sexual selection?
-When members of one sex (often females) choose from available pool of men on basis of features desirable.
-A females best chance of reproductive success is ensuring survival of precious offspring.
-She must choose a male who can commit to protecting and providing for her and her offspring.
Who are women programmed to form relationships with?
Commitment:
-Older, mature - less likely to be unfaithful.
-Men who are choosy - indicates loyalty and reassurance.
Provision:
-Financial stability, high status, power, dominance, success - resources for offspring.
Protection/Strong, healthy genes:
-Clear skin, shiny hair, energetic, muscular - health, provider, protector.
-Shoulder to waist ratio (0.85-0.9).
-Facial and body symmetry - health, long-term.
-Masculine features, square jaw, small eyes, thin lips - maturity, testosterone = aggressive and competitive - provider.
What are the strengths of the Evolutionary Theory?
Support for partner preferences from Lonely Hearts Advertisements:
-Dunbar & Waynorth analysed nearly 900 ads in 4 US newspapers.
-42% males sought for youthful mate, only 25% females did.
-44% males sought for physical attraction, only 22% females did.
-50% women used words to describe their physical looks, only 34% males did and were more likely to advertise their economic status.
-Dunbar & Mcguiness found similar in 600 ads in 2 London magazines - 68% women described their physical looks compared to 51% men.
They found men tended to sell themselves on status, and women on physical attraction, therefore must have an innate awareness of what the opposite sex looks for.
Support for increased number of sexual partners in men:
-Buss & Schmitt (1993) asked how many sexual partners people would ideally like over next 2 years and during lifetime.
-On average, men stated 8 partners in next 2 years and 18 over lifetime.
-Women stated 1 in next 2 years and 4-5 over lifetime.
Demonstrates men are keen to engage in as many sexual relationships as possible due to urge to spread genes, similarly women want to limit relations as aware of risks of giving birth to offspring of a man not committed.
What are two limitations of the Evolutionary Theory?
Cultural Bias in Explanations of Mate Preference:
-Quotes a waist-to-hip ratio of 0.7 in females as ideal indicator of fertility.
-Studies show that in isolated populations in Tanzania and Cameroon, men consider this sickly looking and prefer 0.8 or 0.9.
Suggests not all humans share same sexual preferences and that it isn’t innate. Other factors such as culture must be at play to explain these differences in desired attributes.
Ethical issues: Rape and Natural Selection:
-Thornhill & Palmer (2000) taken explanations further to explain, some would argue to justify, sexual violence.
-They argued rape can be understood using mechanisms of evolution by natural selection.
-Claimed rape was a feasible strategy to aid as an adaptation.
-Alternatively could be viewed as by-product of gender differences - male promiscuity and female choosiness.
-Argued rape could therefore be an evolved tactic for men unable to compete for status.
Claims have been met with resistance, challenge and outrage. Critics argue it justifies unacceptable male violence as ‘natural’ and creates a legal ‘grey’ area, questioning whether they could be held accountable.
