Sexual Selection

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Sexual Selection

Knowledge

> Intrasexual selection (mate competition) - (lions) - members of one sex (usually males) compete with each other for access to members of the other sex & the victors are able to pass on their genes.

> Intersexual selection (mate choice) - (peacocks) - the preferences of one sex for members of the opposite sex who possess certain qualities (plumage) which can be passed onto their offspring. These traits indicate health/strength.

Short-term mating preferences

> According to parental investment theory, men evolved a greater desire for casual sex, and would ideally seek sex earlier in a relationship.

> S-T M P. A male who managed to impregnate many females in a short span of time would have passed on more copies of his genes than a less successful male, but a female could only produce one child at a time, thus giving her no reason to sleep around.

> BUSS said that the less time a man permits to elapse before he has sexual intercourse with a woman, the larger the number of women he can impregnate in a given time.

> BUSS AND SCHMITT said men appear to lower their standards for short-term mating opportunities and then show a decrease in attraction following sex, which is an evolved adaption to bring a hasty departure which prevents them spending too long with one woman.

Long-term mating preferences

> In long-term mating, both sexes typically invest heavily in any offspring, and so sexual selection should favour high levels of choosiness in both sexes.

> Poor long-term mate choice could be disastrous for both sexes because they would've wasted valuable resources.

> As women have an obligatory biological investment in their children, they're predicted to be very particular about their choice of mate, which means being attracted to men who have valuable resources and…

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