Explain the “What is good is beautiful” archaeological study?
Track participant perception as they were in V. close contact for 6 weeks (archaeological dig)
- Rate each other in the beginning (physical attractiveness/kindness/etc)
Then! Rate them again after 6 weeks
Found:
- Initial ratings explained only a small fraction of later ratings (espc for women)
= LIKING THE PERSON has the most influence on the later rating
What is Minimal parental investment?
least amount of time, energy, and resources
that a parent must expend to produce offspring
- For male members of the species: minimal time investment & biological cost
- For female members of the species: much greater investment of time &
resources
➢ Eggs are biologically more costly than sperm
➢ Pregnancy, producing a placenta, lactation, extended period of infertility
following childbirth
Asymmetry in minimal parental
investment
(Evolutionary perspective)
Creates large asymmetry in minimal parental investment of male & female members of the species → different adaptive problems & strategies
Consequences for males:
Minimal parental investment
High variance in reproductive success
* Strong intrasexual competition (physical
dominance, status striving, risk taking)
* Strong preference for fertility cues
- Strategic flexibility
➢ Casual mating when possible, selective
investment in long-term partners - Among humans, pair bonding and dual
parenting due to long child dependency
Consequences for females:
Minimal parental investment
- Lower variance in reproductive success
- More choosiness in mate selection
- Preference for partner qualities that signal ability and willingness to care for offspring
➢ Need to balance securing resources and commitment with selecting mates
who can pass on high-quality genes
What evidence is typically used for minimal parental investment?
(traits that come with it)
Usually self report
(Ex. rate what traits you find attractive in a partner)
Men value attractiveness
Women value Resources
What is Structural powerlessness?
Women value status because they have been historically denied this
What is the critique of the theory that men and women value traits based on evolutionary advantage?
Sex differences in mate preferences may arise from social, rather than purely evolutionary factors
For example:
across cultures women may find status and resources attractive in men because women have less access to status and resources
* Traditional socialization practices maintain
& support these differences
In more equal societies, do women value men’s status more or less?
women place less importance on a man’s status and resources
NOTE: gender equality does not affect importance placed on female
attractiveness
Looking at how preference for earnings reflected IRL with Meta analysis:
What did they find?
Not just women who want good money, and not just men who want attractive
Both value good looks and earning potential
BUT: As the relationship progressed, their objective earning potential was less important, their SUBJECTIVE earning potential was more important (What u think their potential is)
Critiques of the meta analysis on desired traits?
- DIdn’t rlly follow long relationship studies (mainly speed dating ones)
- And men and women have different short term relationship strategies (usually look for someone attractive)
What is the Dual mating strategy hypothesis?
Core idea: Women may pursue different mating strategies depending on the timing within their cycle
➢ Short-term strategy focused on acquiring “good genes” from physically attractive men
➢ Long-term strategy focused on securing resource investment
Because of the asymmetry in levels of minimal parental investment & risk, do males peruse short or long term relationship strategies?
males more likely to
pursue short-term mating strategies
Do ppl deploy only one type of strategy?
What matters for men long term?
BUT both males & females can both shift between short-term and long-term mating strategies when conditions are suitable (i.e., benefits outweigh costs)
- Some evidence that both men AND women likely to prioritize attractiveness in short-term relationships, whereas attractiveness matters more for men long-term
Ovulatory shift hypothesis
(building off Dual mating strategy hypothesis)
Women will show an implicit preference for men with genetic fitness indicators (e.g.,
masculinized faces, facial symmetry) during the high-fertility ovulatory phase of their menstrual cycle (high estradiol, low progesterone),
➢ Preference for cues of prosociality (e.g., kindness, warmth) at other points in
the menstrual cycle
How did they study the Ovulatory shift hypothesis?
Track women across cycle and see who they prefer at diff parts
Found: women prefer masc face when ovulating (same with other fitness cues, like voice / odor)
- Men may pick up on fem fertility
-Increased male guarding, positive attention when ovulating
What are some concerns with the Ovulatory shift hypothesis research and findings?
- Lack of support for idea that masculinized faces signal better genetic quality
- Many small, underpowered studies, widespread use of self-report for
menstrual cycle data (potentially unreliable) - Mixed findings for studies correlating estradiol/progesterone levels with
masculinity preferences - Theoretical challenge: rates of extra-pair paternity are generally very low
- But there is evidence that ovulatory phase increases women’s sexual motivation more broadly (in women not using oral contraceptives)
➢ Also feel more desirable
Do ppl also seek non physical traits?
Yes!
Seek partner traits conducive to high relationship quality: warmth, understanding, kindness (regardless of sex or sexual orientation)
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