intersexual selection

• what do evolutionary psychologists argue?

  -behaviours including mate choice occur to maximise change of passing on genes

  -predicts difference in mate choice between genders
• gender difference 


  -men & women faced different evolutionary pressures in EEA

  -evolved distinct strategies for survival success

  -argued these mechanisms still active today, unconsciously guiding mate choices
• anisogomy


  differences in gametes
• females reproductive biology 


  -low potential reproductive rate

  -produce only few large energy-rich eggs

  -only fertile 72 hours a month from puberty to menopause

  -endure pregnancy & lactation

  -maximum of 1 offspring per 2 years

  -always know infant is theirs
• males reproductive biology


  -very high potential reproductive rate

  -large number of sperm produced & males fertile everyday until death

  -little energy required > no pregnancy & lactation

  -limited by access to fertile females

  -unknown if infant is ever theirs
• characteristics preferred by females

  -prefer males with resources to provide for them

  (physical things & like intelligence)

  -prefer older men who've had more time to gather resources
• females choosiness

  -cost of bad choice of porter much greater

  -as women invested so much into producing offspring

  -females are choosy
• characteristics preferred by males

  males look for indicators of fertility:

  -young > fertile

  -curvy > thin waist = absence of pregnancy

  > larger bottom = fat reserves

  physical attractiveness:

  -symmetrical faces = good genes & free from disease
• males choosiness 


  -males more promiscuous

  -not as choosy as cost of bad choice of female is small

  -only few sperm lost