Lecture 2

Question 1

Charles Darwin

Answer 1

• Developed theory of evolution.
• Theory of evolution is about love.
• Three elements: Variation, Heritability, Selection.
• Example: Giraffes with longer necks survive and reproduce more.

Question 2

Sociobiology

Answer 2

• Social traits have survival and reproductive value.
• Passed on to reproductive generations.
• Examples: Fear for venomous animals, preference for certain foods.
• Psychological mechanisms aid in past survival.
• Perception of tastiness linked to evolutionary survival.

Question 3

Interpersonal mate preferences and attraction

Answer 3

• Specific traits preferred for reproductive advantage.
• Examples: Youth, low waist-to-hip ratio, smooth skin.
• Evolutionary psychology: Men attracted to features corresponding with fertility.
• Evolutionary value of love: Retaining a mate for child-rearing.

Question 4

Beauty

Answer 4

• Beauty isn’t intrinsic; evolutionary forces shape perception.
• Certain features associated with reproductive advantages.
• Evolution influences what we find attractive.
• Features tied to health considered beautiful.

Question 5

Adaptive traits

Answer 5

• Traits providing survival advantage are adaptive.
• Handicap principle in sexual selection.
• Reproductive traits often selected.
• Traits aiding mate attraction contribute to intersexual selection.
• Certain traits aid in intrasexual competition.

Question 6

Aggression in men

Answer 6

• Males more aggressive than females.
• Experiment on mating motives and aggression.
• Primed mating motives increased male aggression.
• Aggression has a competition function in males.
• Effect observed in controlled lab conditions.

Question 7

Ovulation and male testosterone

Answer 7

• Ovulation influences male testosterone.
• T-shirt experiment: Higher testosterone for ovulating phase.
• Evolutionary perspective on scent and attraction.
• Ovulation linked to increased testosterone in males.

Question 8

Creativity and mating motives

Answer 8

• Mating primes and creativity.
• Experiment on story creativity.
• Mating primes increase male creativity.
• Example of intersexual choice.
• Creativity considered attractive, especially in males.

Question 9

The muse effect

Answer 9

• Muse effect: Artist’s creativity increases when in love.
• Link between love, mating motives, and creativity.
• Emphasizes the role of emotions in creativity.

Question 10

Clark & Hatfield (1989)

Answer 10

• Experiment on sexual invitations.
• Differences in selectivity between men and women.
• Men desire short-term relationships more.
• Men require less time before consenting to sex.
• Reflects parental investment theory.

Question 11

Parental investment theory

Answer 11

• Sex differences in offspring investment.
• Selectivity linked to investment and reproduction.
• Women more selective, men compete.
• Bateman’s principle: Sex with less investment competes.

Question 12

Further predictions of PIT

Answer 12

• Sex differences in trait preferences.
• Women value traits associated with resources.
• Men value physical features and youth.
• Predictions derived from parental investment theory.

Question 13

Sex differences in homosexual individuals

Answer 13

• Gay men and lesbian women preferences.
• Bisexual preferences in men and women.
• Reflects evolutionary influences on preferences.
• Linking preferences to reproductive success.

Question 14

Alternative explanation for status/power preferences

Answer 14

• 1. Structural powerlessness hypothesis.
• 1. Females seek wealth due to resource access.
• 1. Predictions and variance between countries.
• 1. Economic equality weakens sex differences in status preference.

Question 15

Parental investment and jealousy

Answer 15

• Different domains of competition for men and women.
• Study on jealousy and characteristics.
• Male jealousy influenced by rival’s dominance.
• Female jealousy influenced by rival’s attractiveness.
• Emotional vs. sexual infidelity threat.