A03

• * evidence from dunbar 1999 evolutionary?

  • conducted content analysis on lonely hearts advert in newspapers
  • found that most men wanted woman who was younger than themselves
  • women tended to seek older men - 1/4 women sought resources
  • supports idea that females prefer to choose mate who enhances reproductive success by providing for them & their offspring
  • men prefer more fertile looking women in order to pass on genes
• * evidence from dunbar 1999 sexual selection & reproduction?

  • conducted content analysis on lonely hearts advert in newspapers
  • found that most men wanted woman who was younger than themselves
  • women tended to seek older men - 1/4 women sought resources
  • supports idea that women will choose mate who will provide quality over quantity in terms of reproductive behaviours
  • men select mate who appears more fertile so they can engage in short term mating to pass on their genes to many offspring
• * evidence from buss 1989 evol?

  • asked males & females what they look for in marriage partner used over 10000 people from 33 countries
  • found females said were looking for males who could financially provide, tall, strong & healthy, older than them & who had symmetry of face & body
  • males said were looking for females who were younger,healthy,physically symmetrical with good WHR
  • supports idea males & females look for diff characteristics in opposite sex - increase chances of survival & reproductive success - said to have evolved to look for
  • men look for young women & women look for resources
• * evidence from buss 1989 sexual selection?

  • asked males & females what they look for in marriage partner used over 10000 people from 33 countries
  • found females said were looking for males who could financially provide, tall, strong & healthy, older than them & who had symmetry of face & body
  • males said were looking for females who were younger,healthy,physically symmetrical with good WHR
  • supports idea that females select mate who will protect & provide when they have child & be part of long term mating
  • men select mate who appears younger so more fertile
• * evidence from clark & hatfield 1989 evol?

  • conducted study - investigate diff in reprod behaviour between men & women
  • attractive male & female approached total strangers on uni campus said "hi ive been noticing u around campus & i find u very attractive" then asked series of q "would u have sex w me tnt?"
  • 75% men - yes & no women said yes
  • supports idea females evolved to choose mate takes part in lt mating to protect them & offspring - reject casual sex
  • men likely to take part in st mating w young attractive women - want to pass on genes to many offspring - likely to agree in casual sex'
• * evidence from clark & hatfield 1989 sexual selection?

  • conducted study - investigate diff in reprod behaviour between men & women
  • attractive male & female approached total strangers on uni campus said "hi ive been noticing u around campus & i find u very attractive" then asked series of q "would u have sex w me tnt?"
  • 75% men - yes & no women said yes
  • idea that men choose to partake in st mating to pass on genes to lots of offspring is supported
  • supports ides that women less likely to partake in st mating as they have more to lose if choose wrong mate & have higher parental investment
• X oversimplified?

  • theory does not explain all couples
  • eg cannot explain homosexual relationships where its impossible for either of pair to find other attractive as a result of evolution where we look for traits that increase our reproductive succes & chances of survival
  • cannot account for lots of relationship types which exist in modern society
  • means it cannot be fully accurate as it doesnt provide valid explanation for these relationships so other factors must be involved
• X methodological problems?

  • due to fact that in order to study mate preferences & reproductive behaviours of males & females we need to use self report techniques - questionnaires
  • means that results may rely on honesty of p & accuracy of their answers
  • they are likely to lie about such sensitive topics - preferred mating preferences & casual sex to gain social desirability.
  • method of investigation used can easily lack accuracy & therefore explanations for partner preferences & relationship between sexual selection & human reproductive behaviour may not be accurate