Sexual selection and Human reproductive behaviour
- Created by: livnightingale
- Created on: 21-03-19 15:55
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- Sexual Selection & Human Reproductive Behaviour
- Anisogamy
- Anisogamy refers to the differences between male and female sex cells.
- Singh (1993) measured waist to hip ratio preferences of males for females
- Findings were that any hip and waist size can be attractive as long as the ratio is 0.7 (shows the female is fertile not currently pregnant.
- This shows that evolutionary factors are reflected in patterns of human reproductive behaviour through partner preference
- Findings were that any hip and waist size can be attractive as long as the ratio is 0.7 (shows the female is fertile not currently pregnant.
- Singh (1993) measured waist to hip ratio preferences of males for females
- Male gametes (sperm) are created continuously in vast numbers
- Female gametes (eggs or ova) are produced in intervals for a limited number of fertile years
- Anisogamy refers to the differences between male and female sex cells.
- Inter-sexual Selection
- Selection of mates between sexes (e.g. females selecting males or males selecting females).
- Clark and Hatfield (1989) sent students to ask other students and ask 'would you go to bed with me tonight?
- 0% of females said yes. 75% of males said yes.
- This supports the suggestion of female choosiness and that males have evolved a different strategy to ensure reproduction
- 0% of females said yes. 75% of males said yes.
- Clark and Hatfield (1989) sent students to ask other students and ask 'would you go to bed with me tonight?
- Females make a greater investment of time, commitment and other resources after birth
- Need to be choosier than males so seek a male who will provide healthy offspring and support
- Preferences of both sexes determine attributes that are passed on - e.g. choosing the tallest male for greater reproductive success.
- Over time this leads to taller and taller men being selected (runaway process)
- Selection of mates between sexes (e.g. females selecting males or males selecting females).
- Intra-sexual Selection
- Selection of mates within sexes (e.g. males competing with other males for mates)
- Buss (1989) surveyed over 10,000 adults in 33 countries asking about partner preference
- He found that females valued resource-related characteristic more than males. Males valued reproductive capacity
- This supports sex differences due to anisogamy and partner preferences derived from sexual selection
- He found that females valued resource-related characteristic more than males. Males valued reproductive capacity
- Buss (1989) surveyed over 10,000 adults in 33 countries asking about partner preference
- Males do best if they reproduce as frequently as possible.
- Competition is necessary as females are a limited resource.
- Males who compete successfully pass on their genes to the next generation
- Competition is necessary as females are a limited resource.
- Intra-sexual selection pressures lead to certain patterns of human reproductive behaviour:
- Male aggression - the most aggressive males are more likely to reproduce
- Male preference for youthful and fertile women because these are signs of fertility
- Male aggression - the most aggressive males are more likely to reproduce
- Selection of mates within sexes (e.g. males competing with other males for mates)
- Waynorth & Dunbar (1995) - studied newspaper dating to see how men and women describe themselves.
- Found women tended to offer physical attractiveness and indicators of youth, while men offered resources such as financially stable
- These findings support the evolutionary suggestions that women will seek resources whilst men are more focused on signs or reproductive fitness
- Found women tended to offer physical attractiveness and indicators of youth, while men offered resources such as financially stable
- Anisogamy
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