Reproductive Behaviour: Sexual selection
- Created by: 08rmorris
- Created on: 11-04-15 11:48
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- Reproductive Behaviour: Sexual selection
- Explains certain reproductive behaviours
- 1. Within a species there are certain characteristics that make individuals attractive to potential mates
- 2. For example, female peacocks find the long, brightly coloured tails of male peacocks attractive
- 3. Males with very brightly coloured tails are more noticeable to redactors. Those with very long tails find it difficult to escape predators
- 4. However, as female peacocks are attracted to this feature, males with long, brightly coloured tails have a higher chance of reproducing and passing on their genes
- 5. This means that the characteristic evolves in the species even though it reduces their chance of survival
- 6. This evolution of characteristics which are attractive to potential mates is known as sexual selection
- 7. In humans, characteristics affecting attractiveness include physical and mental health and some physical feature
- 8. These influence potential mates as they indicate ability to reproduce and provide for offspring
- There are different types of selection
- Intrasexual selection takes place when males compete (often aggressively) and the winner is rewarded with the female. The female is passive in this process - she doesn't choose her own mate
- Sperm competition is a for of intrasexual selection
- 1. Short's (1979) Sperm Competition Theory suggests that males are motivated t ensure that their sperm is successful in fertilisation and compete against other males to make this happen
- 2. In humans this has resulted in men evolving to release large amounts of sperm during ***********
- 3. This is a form of intrasexual selection and increases the likelihood of successful fertilisation
- Sperm competition is a for of intrasexual selection
- Intersexual selection takes place when males compete for the attention of a female. The female plays an active role, choosing her mate
- Buss 1989 carried out cross cultural research into intersexual selection
- Method
- Questionnaires were used to collect data from over 100,000 men and women from 37 different cultures
- Covering demographic information: age, gender and marital status
- Asked about preferences for variables such as marriage, age differences and characteristics of mate (intelligence, sociability, financial prospects)
- Questionnaires were used to collect data from over 100,000 men and women from 37 different cultures
- Results
- Women valued variables associated with gaining resources (money, safe environment) more highly than men
- Men valued variables associated with reproductive capacity (e.g. youth) more highly than women
- Women valued variables associated with gaining resources (money, safe environment) more highly than men
- Conclusion
- Historically, women have had limited access to resources needed to provide for themselves and their offspring
- So they've evolve to select mates who can provide these resources
- Men have been limited by access to fertile women
- And so have evolved to be attracted to women with a high likelihood of reproducing
- Historically, women have had limited access to resources needed to provide for themselves and their offspring
- Evaluation
- Supports an evolutionary explanation of gender differences in sexual selection
- Similar findings were found across a range of different cultures
- HOWEVER
- Wasn't truly representative as it is hard to include rural and less educated people
- HOWEVER
- Similar findings were found across a range of different cultures
- The study didn't take social influences on mate selection into account
- Untitled
- Supports an evolutionary explanation of gender differences in sexual selection
- Method
- Buss 1989 carried out cross cultural research into intersexual selection
- Intrasexual selection takes place when males compete (often aggressively) and the winner is rewarded with the female. The female is passive in this process - she doesn't choose her own mate
- Explains certain reproductive behaviours
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