week 3- long term mating strategies

parental investment and sex differences

internal gestation creates initial asymmetry

0% investment infers large sex differences

risks as a result of sex differences and investment

• females risk desertion

• males risk cuckoldry

female desertion impacts

• long delay to next birth

• poorly developed offspring

• loss of offspring

male cuckoldry impacts

• investment in offspring carrying another males genes

tactics to avoid desertion

anti-desertion such as demanding initial investment from males

tactics to avoid cuckoldry

anti-cuckoldry tactics such as mate guarding (behavioural) and patriarchal control

Buss’s study of mate preferences

• both genders prioritise kindness

• men prefer attractiveness and chasity more

age preferences in male partners

in all 37 cultures women preferred older men- evolutionary views suggest this is because they have more resources

financial prospects

women deem money more important than men

social status preferences

woman value social status more than men

preference for physical strength

all species prefer strong and athletic mates but is moderated by fearful personality and exposure to violence

have men adapted to have long term relationships

low sexual dimporhism

expensive offpsring

marriage is universal

why do men form long term relationships

invest surplus resources

increate paternal certainty

access to female

battens principle

the sex which invests more in the osspring become a resource for which the other sex competes

age preferences in men

men prefer younger wives- reproductive value

fertility

average reproductive value and lifetime production of offspring

fecundity

likelihood of reproducing now

physical attractiveness preferences

males prefer physical attractiveness compared to women because beauty signals health and age

virginity preferences

men prefer sexual fidelity more than women- links to anti-cuckoldry

women and resources men

women choose well-resourced men because it enhances survival

they would rather be the second wife of a well resourced man than the first wife of a poor one

resources and negative resporductive success

fertility is lower in richer countries

resources and posiitve reproductive success

resources still positively correlate with potential offspring

negative relationship but positive for…

resources provide a negative relationship for fertility but positive for reproductive success

initial asymmetry is caused by…

initial gestation in female