Topic 1- Evolutionary explanations for partner preferences Flashcards
What is Anisogoamy?
1) Sex cells that are different, coming together to reproduce.
2) Men have sperm cells (many millions) –> Never stops producing
3) Females have eggs –> Less plentiful –> Limited time –> Requires more energy
4) This means that men and women have different strats when choosing their partners
What is inter-sexual selection?
1) Between the sexes, strats that males use when selecting females and females use when selecting males
2) It is generally used by females –> Females lose more resources if they have a substandard partner
What is intrasexual selection
1) Within each sex, anisogamy suggests that men’s best evolutionary strat is to have as many partners as possible
E.g –> Mate competition to present themselves more attractive and more stronger
What is the runaway process?
An attractive trait becomes successful over generations
What does intersexual selection determine?
It determines intra-sexual selection –> “Sexy sons hypothesis” –> Female models with a male who has desirable characteristics and this “sexy” trait is inherited
As a result: Sexual dimorphism –> differences in appearance between males and females of the same species such as colour shape and size.
Buss: Evaluation 1.5
1) Conducted a survey of 10,000 adults in 37 different cultures
2) Explored what males and females looked for in a marriage
3) Females reported valuing resource based characteristics when choosing a male
4) Male valued good looks and prefered younger partners more than females
5) Supported by research conducted by Waynforth and Dunbar –> Found that women tended to list physical characteristics when seeking a partner in personal ads and men promoted their wealth and resources
Evaluation 2.
The ‘sexy sons hypothesis’ does not take daughters into consideration, which is an example of beta bias. It is also very stereotypical to both women and men as preference in what is attractive may differ between individuals
Evaluation 3:
Research is socially sensitive –> The preference that is shown may offend those without the characteristics
Evaluation 4:
Ignores social and cultural influences
Bereczkei –> Argues that social change has consequences for women’s mate preference which may no longer be resource orientated as the financial sides of things have already been met by them working.
