Psychology Essay Plans: Relationships

Sexual selection is an evolutionary explanation

Human reproductive behaviour

These characteristics are attractive to potential mates

Anisogamy

Male sex cells- small, mobile, continuous supply, don't require a great energy expenditure

Female sex cells- large, static, produced at intervals, limited, requires large energy investment

Therefore fertile women are rare 'resources'

Anisogamy gives rise to two  mating strategies:

Between the sexes

Males use to select females/ females use to select males

Within each sex

Strategies to be the one that is selected

Preferred by females

Quality over quantity

Ova more rare than sperm 

She needs to be more selective before investing her resources

Optimum mating strategy- genetically fit partner, will provide resources

Ronald Fisher- Runaway strategy