How does the human brain aid in creating strategies for survival
- Able to estimate the individuals gain and costs associated with survival and reproduction
- Behavioural responses made using it are optimal in terms of adaptation to the given ecological and social environment
How can our behavior still influence reproductive success
- This can be the result of an adaptive cognitive process
Describe the Hunter-gatherer Bushmen
- From Kalahari Desert
- Interval between births: 48-50 months
- From the age of 18-20 years to the age of 40-45
- they give birth to an average of 5 children
- Breastfeeding is intensive and lasts for 3-5years
- The mother carries her youngest child on herself for 15-20km
Describe the Settled herding bushmen
- Edge of Kalahari desert
- Interval between births : 24-30 months
- From the age of 16-18 years to the age of 40-45 years
- They give birth to 8-10 children
- Due to a better food supply, they start giving birth earlier
- There’s available cow’s milk so breastfeeding finishes earlier
Describe the male reproductive success in a more wealthy family
- Children are better fed and receive better medical care leading to a higher survival
- Multiple wives can be bought or kept, leading to more children e.g Kipsigis (pastoral people of kenya) where the sons of wealthier families buy several wives
In the course of human evolution, a number of factors that promote close relationships have evolved:
- Desire during the mating act
- Hormonal bonding of couples
- Emotional attachment of couples
- Variety of altruistic behaviours in humans
whats the difference between animals and humans sexual behaviour
Animals: Sex is usually only used to create offspring
Humans: There are 3 functions, creating offspring, Stress-decreasing and relationship-strengthening
How are humans serially monogamous
- After each period of 4 years, the couples entered into a new relationship
- Or they could have another child with the same partner
Describe the direct benefits for mate selection preferences
- Good offspring care
- Abundant prey
- resources
Described the indirect benefits for mate selection preferences
- Good genes
Describe how females identify their mates based on the physical traits of the male
- They rated the attractiveness of the men based on pictures
- Symmetry has been shown to be a general quality indicator in several studies in humans, which can indicate a good genetic quality
- Smell of the mans t-shirt
What is the evolutionary benefit of cheating:
- MEN: They can have more offspring
- WOMEN: They can have offspring from a better quality male
describe jealousy
- This is an adaptive behaviour that is used as a mate retention strategy
- Those who are jealous pay more attention to the partner and can thus prevent affairs.
- This increases the likelihood that he will raise his own offspring or that his mate will not desert
Describe the reproductive tactics between women and men
MEN:
- Family happiness : intensive care of offspring VS Macho man: Intrasexual competition
- The mans socio-economic status
WOMEN:
- Family happiness: Retaining the partner VS Flirty woman: Increased number of partners
- Indirect benefit
- No long-term monogamy relationships
