Sexual Selection
- Created by: Megan Billyeald
- Created on: 31-12-12 09:56
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- Sexual Selection
- Intra-sexual selection
- Members of one sex compete with one another to gain access with members of the opposite sex. The victors are able to mate meaning their genes are successfully passed on.
- Inter-sexual selection
- Preferences of one sex for members of the opposite sex who possess certain qualities. For example females may prefer tall males.
- Short term mating preferences
- According to Parental Investment Theory men would seek sex earlier in a relationship.
- Over a period of one year, a man would be able to impregnate a large number of women whereas a woman would only produce a single child.
- Men strive to pass on their genes.
- Long-term mating preferences
- Women are attracted to men that are able to invest their resources in her and their children, are able to protect them, show promise as a good parent, and are sufficiently compatible to minimise costs.
- Males are attracted to women that show signs of fertility as they do not want to waste their resources. For example they placed importance on physical attractiveness.
- Evaluation
- Choosing the right mate could enhance survival
- Low -quality mates are more likely to produce unattractive and unhealthy offspring whereas high-quality mates will produce high quality offspring.
- The higher the quality of the offspring the more likely they are to survive as they have good genes.
- Low -quality mates are more likely to produce unattractive and unhealthy offspring whereas high-quality mates will produce high quality offspring.
- Female mate choice varies across the menstrual cycle.
- Penton-Voak found that women choose a slightly more feminised version of a male face as "most attractive" for a long term relationship. However, when they were most fertile during their menstrual cycle they chose more masculine features.
- This tells us that women's mate choice does vary.
- Penton-Voak found that women choose a slightly more feminised version of a male face as "most attractive" for a long term relationship. However, when they were most fertile during their menstrual cycle they chose more masculine features.
- Males have a preference for younger women.
- This is because they may be easier to control so are preferred as mates.
- However, Kenrick et al rejected this hypothesis because they found that teenage males are attracted to women that are five years older than them.
- This is because they may be easier to control so are preferred as mates.
- Choosing the right mate could enhance survival
- Intra-sexual selection
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