evolutionary explanations for partner preferences

aqa a level psychology relationships evolutionary explanations partner preferences

what is sexual selection?

the evolution of characteristics that provide a reproductive advantage rather than a survival one

what us natural selection?

the evolution of characteristics that provide an adaptive survival advantage & not necessarily a reproductive one

what is intrasexual selection?

individuals of one sex must outcompete other members of their sex in order to gain access to members of the opposite sex

what is intersexual selection?

members of one sex display preferences for desirable qualities in potential mates & those who possess these characteristics will gain a mating advantage

what is anisogamy?

the difference in male & female sex cells

why do mechanisms for mate choices evolve?

the genetic quality of a mate is important in the survival and upbringing of the offspring

what do females look for in a mate?

• able to invest resources in her and her children

• able to physically protect her and her children

• show promise as a good parent

• sufficiently compatible to ensure minimal costs to her and her children

what do males look for in a mate?

• signs of fertility

what was buss’s aim?

to explore what males & females look for in a long-term partner

what was buss’s procedure?

• 10k pps

• 37 cultures

• pps asked to rate 18 characteristics on how important they are for a mate

• 4 point scale from 3 being indispensable to 0 being irrelevant

what kind of characteristics were used in buss’s study?

• physical attractiveness

• good financial prospect

what did buss find women wanted in men?

• resources

• ambition

• industriousness

• intelligence

• kind

what did buss find men wanted in women?

• physical attractiveness

• youth

• intelligence

• kind

what was hatfield’s procedure?

• field experiment

• students approached strangers of the opposite sex on campus

• propositioned them with 1 of 3 requests

what were hatfield’s students’ requests?

• to go out with them that night

• to go back to their house with them

• to have sex with them

what did hatfield find?

• 50% of men and women agreed to go out that night

• 0 women agreed to have sex

• 75% men agreed to have sex

• 69% men agreed to go to their home

what does hatfield’s findings show?

men may have a tendency for multi-partner mating

what are the weaknesses of evolutionary explanations for partner preferences?

• culture > evolution - Bernstein - women denied economic/political power seek status somehow - analysis showed women valued resources in cultures where women could not access them

• female preferences not universal - high status results found on undergrad students - these women expect high educational status - unrepresentative

• menstrual cycle may effect it - changes - feminised appearance long term - kindness and cooperation - ovulation - masculine face

• determinist - religion and moral influences - Silver Ring Thing - no sex before marriage - social development influences

what are the strengths of evolutionary explanations for partner preferences?

• human equivalent of peacock’s tail - some features only survive for sexual selection - no survival purpose - eg creativity - males in creative professions have more sexual partners

• clarke & hatfield

• buss

• cunningham - sexual indicators evidence - facial preference - men attracted to young features - big eyes, small noses - however, some mature features also - high cheekbones and narrow cheeks

what are the weaknesses of buss?

• lacks validity - may not reflect real life mate choice - age

• methodology - survey - quantitative data limiting

• ignores homosexuality

what are the weaknesses of hatfield?

• short term preferences - undergrad - not looking for long term relationships

• might be measuring preferences - not gender bias