evolutionary explanations

• INTRO  - evolutionary explanations of behaviour are based on the idea that human beings seek to continue their genetic line using the mechanisms of adaptation to ensure their survival

  • Traits are passed down from generation to generation with only the fittest traits surviving this process: in terms of sexual selection this would mean selecting a partner who is likely to give your offspring the best chance of survival and further reproduction
• INTER-SEXUAL SELECTION - methods that individuals use to attract the opposite sex

  • can be seen in animals such as a male peacock displaying colourful feathers to attract a female. males may display their wealth through expensive cars/watches. attributes such as good waist to hip ratio, ample bosom and shiny hair show good fertility
  • males must show they are resourceful, while women show they have good child-rearing capabilities
  • women are more choosy due to anisogamy where sperm is cheap and eggs are expensive. they must choose a high quality resourceful sexual partner to reproduce with
• INTRA-SEXUAL SELECTION - members of the same sex compete to attract members of the opposite sex

  • more common in men as they tend to desire quantity over quality - they prefer more sexual partners
  • traits that allow men to triumph their rivals include being tall, muscular, aggressive and competitive
  • as females do not compete they have evolved to be shorter, less muscular and less aggressive
• A03

  -evidence has shown that evolutionary explanations to explain reproduction patterns are outdated and not fully applicable to modern times. chang et al suggested that an interactionist approach would be best suited to explaining reproductive behaviour whereby cultural factors are also taken into account. women no longer seek resourceful men as they have become more financially independent within the 21st century. therefore this suggests that this explanation lacks temporal validity as it doesn't take into account changing social/cultural factors affecting reproduction choices
• A03

  + there is still some evidence to suggest that aspects of sexual selection are prevalent in modern day. Singh found that sexual selection pressures of a suitable waist to hip ratio are still present in modern day with the desirable ratio being 0.7. similarly, a small waist and larger hips are deemed to make birth easier. this therefore puts social pressure on women who do not have this ratio to feel anxious regarding birth and being seen as attractive. thus, these factors have remained constant in modern day
• A03

  + supportive evidence for female choosiness. Clarke and Hatfield found 75% of college boys were willing to sleep with a stranger who complimented them compared to 0% of women. this supports the ideas of men choosing quantity over quality, while women are aware the their eggs are valuable so a suitable spouse must be chosen wisely and not given away easily