Evolutionary Explanations

• Evolution


  Human reproduction behaviour is driven by the need to survive and reproduce
• Sexual Selection


  Creatures ability to compete with others of the same sex for mates, increasing the gene pool
• Intersexual Selection


  One sex (usually female) choose mates to reproduce with based on specific traits, more selective to choose highest quality mate due to greater time investment
• Intrasexual


  Same sex (usually males) compete with eachother with physical, social and resource power, and has low investment costs
• Anisogamy


  Difference between sex cells

  • Sperm - large quantities, quickly replenished, aim to have sex with as many women as possible
  • Ova - small, limited quantities, lots of energy, aim to find committed partner
• Male-Female Dimorphism


  Enhanced secondary sexual characteristics

  • Females look for: resources, dominance (tall, healthy), v-shaped chests
  • Males look for: large breasts, signs of fertility, young features
• (+) A03: Waynforth + Dunbar (1995)


  'Lonely Hearts' newspaper column, 900 ads

  • 42% of males looked for youth, compared to 25% of females
  • Men emphasised status, Females emphasised looks
• (+) A03: Clarke + Heartfield (1989)


  University campus study, students ask others to "go have sex / go to house / go on date"

  • 50% said yes to date
  • 0% of females said yes to sex, compared to 75% of males
• (-) A03: Limited Explanation


  Doesn't have any explanation for homosexual relationships due to focusing on evolutionary features of reproduction
• (-) A03: Alpha Bias


  Exaggurates sexual differences between males and females; research can be socially sensitive