Evolutionary explanation for attraction

biological differences

gamete - women (egg) men (sperm)

Males - infinite amount

women - limited amount which diminishes with age

parental investment

females - invest more into the health and keeping baby alive (carrying the child and birthing it)

men - invest a lot less, no biological investment. through protection, resources etc.

sexual selection

intra-sexual selection - competition between same sex (typically males) for a mate.

inter-sexual selection - traits that different sexes find attractive (women choosing a man to mate with based on their characteristics)

women invest more - so are able to choose the mate

short term vs long term mating strategies

• females want males which stay and invest more - offspring can grow and then reproduce

• male want to reproduce as much as possible - short term mating

traits

sexual dimorphism - physical differences between male and females

natural selection - survival of the fittest

female - ambitions, resources, stability etc.

male - younger, healthy, large hips.

offspring

women choose male to mate with the most optimal traits and characteristics to share to their child.

want strong characteristics to be passed on and for them to survive.

survival of genes

genes that are passed on influence our physiology that in turn promote adaptive behaviour.

female - choosing mate to share to their offspring so they are able to survive and in turn mate and share the genetics on.

AO3 - supportnig evidence

Buss et al

sent out a questionnaire to find what females/males find attractive in a mate.

females - look for older men, more into ambition, resources and money.

men - look for younger women, caring qualities so they can have children.

AO3 - supporting research

Clarke and Hatfield

went around a university campus, a woman and a man asking ‘i have seen you around will you sleep with me’

0% of women said yes to the man

75% of men said yes to women

shows investment which influences causal sex in genders

AO3 - interactionist approach

chang

found that both cultural and evolution explanations are most accurate.

changing social norms - women no longer place a large emphasis on resource-availability.

average age of marriage - 30