Evolutionary Explanation of Human Reproduction
The Relationship between Sexual Selection and Human Reproduction
Gender differences in parental investment.
AO1, AO2, IDA points for all.
- Created by: ThatAdamsGuy
- Created on: 16-01-15 19:49
View mindmap
- Evolutionary Explanations for Human Reproduction
- Sex differences & parental investment
- Parental Investment Theory - Trivers. Suggests gender differences in sexual behaviour evolve due to differing amounts of parental investment by males / females
- Male investment is small. Always fertile, infinite sperm. Can impregnate many women, genes spread to as many healthy women as possible.
- Female investment huge - limited eggs, fertile only 30 years. 9 months growing foetus, shares nourishment. Pain of birth, would have had to breast feed for 2 years. Wants best possible mate - make it worth the effort
- AO1
- AO2
- Supported by Buss. Asked male and female students to imagine their partner sleeping with, and in love with, with somebody else, whilst measuring stress response.
- Males became more distressed at sexual unfaithfulness, women more at emotional unfaithfulness.
- Unfaithful woman means that man invests in a child that's not his. Unfaithful nan means resources directed away from her and her family.
- Males became more distressed at sexual unfaithfulness, women more at emotional unfaithfulness.
- Has real applications - can be used to explain sexual violence.
- Thumhill suggests men without resources are still programmed to reproduce so cannot control sexual needs.
- However, feminists feel this is an attempt to justify ****.
- Thumhill suggests men without resources are still programmed to reproduce so cannot control sexual needs.
- Supported by Buss. Asked male and female students to imagine their partner sleeping with, and in love with, with somebody else, whilst measuring stress response.
- Parental Investment Theory - Trivers. Suggests gender differences in sexual behaviour evolve due to differing amounts of parental investment by males / females
- IDA
- Naturist. The theory is caused by evolution, so ignores environmental factors.
- Deterministic. The evolutionary basis suggests that we don't have free will over actions, it's caused by a natural desire to reproduce
- Does not consider factors such as choosing to not be in a relationship or asexuality
- Reductionist - complex nature of choosing a partner reduced down to simple stage of evolution
- Does not consider factors such as personal relationship experiences (a bad relationship may put you off a certain type of person)
- SEXUAL SELECTION - the process by which characteristics are selected because they are attractive to the opposite sex. Genes for these characteristics are passed into offspring
- Features attractive in women
- Features associated with young children - large eyes, small noses, small chins
- Sexually selected for youthful features - more likely to be fertile and be able to increase offspring's chance of survival.
- STUDY - Manipulated faces of each gender (Cunningham for females, Waynforth for males) and asked to rate for attractiveness.
- Features associated with strength. Strong males can provide for offspring, increasing survival.
- STUDY - Manipulated faces of each gender (Cunningham for females, Waynforth for males) and asked to rate for attractiveness.
- Sexually selected for youthful features - more likely to be fertile and be able to increase offspring's chance of survival.
- Features of maturity as well - prominent cheekbones, wide hips, narrow cheeks
- Sexually selected for youthful features - more likely to be fertile and be able to increase offspring's chance of survival.
- STUDY - Manipulated faces of each gender (Cunningham for females, Waynforth for males) and asked to rate for attractiveness.
- Features associated with strength. Strong males can provide for offspring, increasing survival.
- STUDY - Manipulated faces of each gender (Cunningham for females, Waynforth for males) and asked to rate for attractiveness.
- Sexually selected for youthful features - more likely to be fertile and be able to increase offspring's chance of survival.
- Features associated with young children - large eyes, small noses, small chins
- Features attracttive in men
- Masculine features - square jaw, ridged eyebrows, small eyes, symmetrical face
- Masculine features - square jaw, ridged eyebrows, small eyes, symmetrical face
- Features attractive in women
- Sexual Selection
- AO1
- AO2
- Culture bias in these studies - different features can be found attractive in different cultures - cannot be generalised
- However, Longlois found there was considerable agreement within and between cultures as to attractiveness in a meta-analysis of 919 studies. Suggests some generalisability
- Support - Waynforth & Dunbar analysed 900 personal ads in 4 USA newspapers. 42% males requested youthful matte, compared tto 22% females.
- Women also sought physical attraction, and likely to mention power and status. Men more likely to mention physical attractiveness.
- Suggests that women find potential in partner more important than physical attraction. Supports evolutionary theory, as men want fertile women and women want a strong male with resources.
- Women also sought physical attraction, and likely to mention power and status. Men more likely to mention physical attractiveness.
- Culture bias in these studies - different features can be found attractive in different cultures - cannot be generalised
- Sex differences & parental investment
Comments
No comments have yet been made