Sexual Selection and Human Reproductive Behaviour Evolutionary explanation of relationships

• Reproductive success


  Refers to the production of healthy offspring who are then able to reproduce themselves
• Human Reproductive Behaviour


  The behaviours we engage in to increase our reproductive success
• Human Reproductive Behaviour


  • The two behaviours we will look at are inter-sexual selection and intra-sexual selection
• Intra-Sexual Selection


  Refers to members of the same sex competing with one another to gain access to a sexual partner
• Men tend to engage more in intra-sexual selection, than do women
• Men who are stronger and more aggressive will 'win' more competitions and in turn gain access to more sexual partners
• Inter-Sexual Selection


  Refers to women/ men selecting mates with desirable characteristics
• Inter-sexual selection


  Sometimes referred to as 'female choice', because it's based on the idea that women are the 'choosier' sex
• Women need to be sure that their partner will provide resources (such as shelter and food) to support (and ensure the survival of) her and her children
• Men who have more resources (food, shelter, money etc.) are more likely to be selected by women, and are therefore more likely to pass on their genes
• The minimum investment a man has to make is an ejaculation, whereas the minimum investment a woman has to make is 9 months of pregnancy and child birth
• Men are less 'choosy', but they do display preferences for attractive women - because attractive partners have a higher reproductive value
• Men also display a preference for younger women, as they tend to be more fertile
• Clark and Hatfield (1989)


  • 0% of females agreed to the request
  • 75% of men agreed to the request
• This shows that, as inter-sexual selection predicts, women are choosier about who they mate with
• Buss (1989)


  • Women (more than men) desired mates who were 'good financial prospects'
  • Men placed more importance on physical attractiveness
  • Men showed a preference for females who were younger than them
• This study supports the concept of inter-sexual selection
• Waynforth and Dunbar (1995)

  • Women were more likely to comment on their physical attractiveness
  • Men were more likely to comment on their resources
• This aligns with the notion that women display an evolutionary preference for resources, whilst men display an evolutionary preference for attractiveness
• The sexual selection theory ignores the influence of social factors upon relationships
• Women are no longer limited to the role of a 'housewife'; they can enter the workplace if they wish to do so
• Women are less (or not at all) dependent on men for resources
• The idea that women prefer men with resources may be outdated and not applicable to modern romantic relationships