Evolutionary explanations

• Sexual selection- Darwin

  Natural- survival of the fittest, adaptive traits, reproduced

  Biological- sexual selection isn’t conscious, but biologically chosen

  Sexual- reproduce to pass on the traits, improving reproduction success + evolutionary advantages, genetic fitness

  • genders use different methods - anisogamy - sperm/eggs
• Sexual selection-

  Intra-sexual selection = within

  • mate competition within the same sex
  • males compete for females + win to pass on genes
  • sneak copulation - less dominate males mate before the more dominate males = no competition
  • mate guarding - males protect females while fertile to not be betrayed (cohesive control/tending)
  • courtship ritual - seducing females with a dance or appearance
  • peacock theory - males being prettier, sexual dimorphism
• Sexual selection-

  Inter-sexual selection = between

  • mate choice between sexes
  • traits that increase attractiveness + mates
  • females want - resources, strength, height
  • males want - fertility, youth
  • Sexy sons - Fisher - females choice to increase their kids success
• Sexual selection-

  S- consistent with anisogamy

  S- scientific credibility through evolution of

  S- Buss - 10000 adults from 33 countries - f=resource focused, m=physical focus

  CPS- Clark + Hatfield - campus students asked ‘I find you attractive, will you sleep with me?’ - f=0%, m=75%

  CPW- shows the theory to be simplistic, as women aren’t the same as men and don’t look for ST

  W- outdated - lacks temporal validity as F have independence + not everyone wants kids

  W- non-generalisable to homosexual couples

  W- ethics - social sensitivity, gender/alpha bias = exaggerated differences