Sexual Selection and Human Reproductive Behaviour
- Created by: 221BTimelord
- Created on: 12-01-17 13:41
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- Sexual Selection and Human Reproductive Behaviour
- Anisogamy:
- The differences between male and female gametes
- Male Gametes: small, mobile, created continuously.
- Female Gametes: large, static, limited number of fertile years.
- Consequence for Male Selection: no shortage of fertile males, but fertile females are less common - rare 'resource'.
- Gives rise to two different mating strategies/ sexual selection:
- Inter-Sexual Selection: between the sexes - e.g. how men pick women, and how women pick men.
- Intra-Sexual Selection: within the sexes - e.g. how men ensure they are the male picked for mating.
- Male's optimum mating strategy is to mate with as many females as possible.
- Due to minimal energy required to produce sperm, and the lack of post-coital responsibility a male has.
- Behavioural consequence: demand for youthful mates, indicators including facial features, and for fertility, indicators being a certain body shape.
- The differences between male and female gametes
- Inter-Sexual Selection:
- Preferred strategy of females - quality over quantity
- Consequence of choosing wrong partner is more serious for females.
- Females' Optimum Mating Strategy: select genetically fit partner, who is willing to provide resources.
- ROBERT TRIVERS (1972): females make greater investment of time, commitment, and resources - before, during and after birth.
- Female preferences determine which characteristic is passed onto offspring.
- RONALD FISHER (1930): **** Son Hypothesis. Females mates with Male who has desirable aspects. '****' trait is then inherited. Results in increase likelihood of future females mating with the new generation.
- Preferred strategy of females - quality over quantity
- Intra-Sexual Selection:
- Preferred strategy of males - quantity over quality
- It is the competition between males to have the right to mate with a female
- Preferred strategy of males - quantity over quality
- Causes dimorphism in humans - the difference between the sexes
- Physical competition = size matters. Larger males more likely to mate. But females don't compete to mate, so there is no evolutionary drive for larger females being favoured.
- There are behavioural and psychological effects, which are controversial
- Males must behave and benefit from aggressive behaviour, in order to acquire fertile females.
- Male's optimum mating strategy is to mate with as many females as possible.
- Due to minimal energy required to produce sperm, and the lack of post-coital responsibility a male has.
- Behavioural consequence: demand for youthful mates, indicators including facial features, and for fertility, indicators being a certain body shape.
- Anisogamy:
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