Discuss the relationship between sexual selection and human reproductive behaviour basic plan

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  • Created by: Alice1425
  • Created on: 20-09-18 22:30
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  • discuss the relationship between sexual selection and human reproductive behaviours (16)
    • Darwin's theory of sexual selection
      • humans have evolved to behave in a manner that is most likely to end up having the best offspring possible
        • 'human reproductive behaviour'
        • to ensure genes are passed on
      • 2 types
        • Intrasexual selection
          • individuals of one sex compete to out do members of the same sex in order to attract a partner
        • intersexual selection
          • members of one gender evolve to prefer particular qualities
            • attractiveness
            • resources
            • status
    • gender differences in long term partner preferences
      • males prefer:
        • physically attractive
        • fertile
        • younger
        • kind
      • females prefer:
        • good financial prospects
        • industrious
        • intelligent
        • kind
        • genetically fit
    • strength of evolutionary explaination
      • Research: Buss 1989
        • 10,000 adults in 33 countries
        • asked Q's relating to age & other attributes that evolutionary theory predicts should be important in partner preference
          • gender differences in long term partner preferences
            • males prefer:
              • physically attractive
              • fertile
              • younger
              • kind
            • females prefer:
              • good financial prospects
              • industrious
              • intelligent
              • kind
              • genetically fit
        • findings  support predictions about partner preference derived from sexual selection theory
        • high levels of generalisability
        • no cultural bias
        • not ethnocentric
        • however, should be cautious when applying findings from surveys as respondents often answer in socially desirable way
          • therefore not always truthful
    • limitation of evolutionary explaination
      • cultural traditions  Bernstein 2015
        • gender differences in mate preference patterns might stem from cultural traditions as well as social and economic factors rather than being the result of evolved charachteristics.
          • e.g fact that women have been denied economic and political power in many cultures might account for tendency to rely on security and economic resources of men
        • Kasser and Sharma 1999
          • analysis of 37 countries
          • showed women valued potential mates access to resources far more in cultures where women's status and educational opportunities were limited

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