evolutionary explanations for partner preferences

• what is sexual selection?

  characteristics that increase reproductive success are passed on
• what is anisogamy?

  the differences between the male and female gametes
• give 3 characteristics of male gametes (sperm)

  • replenished quickly
  • highly mobile
  • doesn’t require great energy to produce
• give 3 characteristics of female gametes (egg)

  • large and static
  • produced at intervals
  • requires lots of energy
• what are the 2 different mating strategies?

  • intra-sexual selection
  • inter-sexual selection
• intra-sexual selection is the preferred strategy for..?

  males
• what is intra-sexual selection?

  males compete with other males for a female mate
• what is the optimum mating strategy for intra-sexual selection?

  mate with as many females as possible
• inter-sexual selection is the preferred strategy for..?

  females
• what is inter-sexual selection?

  • traits increase attractiveness and induce members of the opposite sex to mate with them
  • females need to be more careful when choosing a partner because the consequences of making the wrong choice are bigger for females
• what is the optimum mating strategy for inter-sexual selection?

  mate with one genetically fit partner who can provide for you and your offspring
• what is physical dimorphism?

  different sexual selection strategies lead to differences in the physical appearance of males and females
• what is physical dimorphism in males?

  strong and aggressive
• what is physical dimorphism in females?

  attractive traits
• give a strength of evolutionary explanations for partner preference

  • research support
  • buss (1994) conducted a survey of heterosexual mate selection
  • across 33 countries studied, he found that men preferred good looks, youth and chastity, while women preferred good financial prospects, industriousness and dependability
  • therefore, these findings reflect sex differences in mate selection due to anisogamy
• give a strength of evolutionary explanations for partner preference

  • research support
  • clark and hatfield (1989)
  • male and female psychology students were sent across a university campus
  • they approached other students individually with this question, "i have been noticing you around campus. i find you very attractive. would you go to bed with me tonight?"
  • findings - 0% of females said yes and 75% of males said yes
  • therefore, this shows how the sexes have evolved different strategies for reproductive success
• give a strength of evolutionary explanations for partner preference

  • research support
  • waynforth (1995) conducted a content analysis of lonely hearts advertisement in american newspapers and found men and women had to describe the qualities they desired in a potential partner, while cataloguing what they had to offer
  • women more than men tended to offer physical attractiveness and indication of youth (flirty, exciting and sexy)
  • men offered resources more than women did (successful, fit, mature and ambitious)
  • therefore, this supports evolutionary explanations for choosing partners
• give a weakness of evolutionary explanations for partner preference

  • reductionism
  • evolutionary reductionism
  • as it argues that strategies for choosing a mate are the result of genetic inheritance and striving for reproductive success only
• give a weakness of evolutionary explanations for partner preference

  • alpha bias
  • where the differences between males and females may be exaggerated
  • males and females also look for similar characteristics e.g kindness and loyalty
• give a weakness of evolutionary explanations for partner preference

  • cannot account for all romantic relationships
  • cannot explain the partner preferences of the LGBTQ+ community
  • this is mainly because in homosexual relationships, partner choice doesn't result in reproductive success