Lesson 1: Evolutionary Explanations

Question 1

Evolutionary explanations of partner preferences

Answer 1

• Partner preferences are driven by sexual selection
• Both males and females choose partners in order to maximise their chances of reproductive success
• Individuals with traits that maximise reproductive success (e.g. strength, height, aggression, wide hips etc.) are more likely to survive and pass on the genes responsible for their success

Question 2

Gametes

Answer 2

• Males have sperm cells, which are able to reproduce quickly with little energy expenditure.
• Female gametes are much less plentiful and require more energetic to produce
• This difference (anisogamy) means that males and females use distinct strategies to choose a partner

Question 3

Intra-sexual selection

Answer 3

• where members of one sex (usually male) compete with one another for access to the other sex
• leads to male-female dimorphism (accentuation of secondary sexual characteristics in those with greater reproductive fitness)

Question 4

Anisogamy (men)

Answer 4

• suggests that a male’s best evolutionary strategy is to have as many partners as possible. Males must compete with other males to present themselves as the most attractive mate to fertile female partners.

Question 5

Mate guarding

Answer 5

• where males guard their female partner to prevent them from mating with anyone else

Question 6

Cuckoldry

Answer 6

• males being fearful of raising another man’s child

Question 7

Inter-sexual selection

Answer 7

• where members of one sex (usually female) choose from available prospective mates (usually males) according to attractiveness

Question 8

Anisogamy (women)

Answer 8

• suggests that a women’s best evolutionary strategy is to be selective when choosing a partner. Females tend to seek a male who displays characteristics of physical health, high status and resources so the male partner is able to protect the, and provide for their children. In the past this may have equated to muscular strength but in modern society this might relate to occupation and wealth.

Question 9

Buss (1989) (Strength of evolutionary explanations)

Answer 9

• conducted a survey of over 10,000 adults in 33 countries and found that females reported valuing resource-based characteristics (such as occupation) whilst men valued good looks and preferred younger partners

Question 10

Clark and Hatfield (1989) (strength)

Answer 10

• conducted an infamous study where male and female psychology students were asked to approach fellow students of Florida state university and ask them for one of three things: to go on a date, to go back to their apartment, or to go to bed with them. About 50% of both men and women agreed to the date but whilst 69% of men agreed to visit the apartment and 75% agreed to go to bed with them, only 6% of women agreed to go to the apartment and 0% accepted the more intimate offer.

Question 11

Deterministic (weakness)

Answer 11

• evolutionary approach is deterministic, suggesting that we have little free-will in partner choice. However, everyday experience tells us we do have some control over our partner preferences

Question 12

Socially sensitive (weakness)

Answer 12

• evolutionary approaches to mate preferences are socially sensitive as they promote sexist views regarding what are natural male and female behaviours. Women are now more career orientated and independent therefore will not look for resourceful partners as they may have had to in the past. Additionally, the availability of contraception means that evolutionary pressures are less relevant.

Question 13

homosexuality (weakness)

Answer 13

• theory makes little attempt to explain other types of relationships e.g. non heterosexual relationships and cultural variations in relationships which exist across the world e.g. arranged marriages