Lecture on Mating Strategies and The National Student Survey

Evolutionary Psychology: Mating Strategies

  • Part 1: Theories of Sexual Selection

    • Parental Investment Theory:

    • Describes conflict in how much effort to invest in mating vs. parenting.

    • Females typically invest more than males in terms of time and resources.

    • Error Management Theory:

    • Explains biases in how males and females perceive each other’s intentions in mating contexts.

  • Part 2: Mating Strategies

    • Female Long-Term vs. Short-Term Strategies:

    • Includes considerations of investment in offspring, mate quality, and the context of potential short-term partners.

  • Part 3: Research Ideas Discussion.

Natural Selection vs. Sexual Selection

  • Natural Selection:

    • Focused on survival traits.

    • Traits solve practical problems (utilitarian).

  • Sexual Selection:

    • Focus on traits that attract mates.

    • Traits may be elaborate and wasteful (e.g., bright colors in birds).

Female Mating Strategies

  • Key Insights from Sarah Blaffer Hrdy (1981):

    • Females significantly influence evolutionary direction by choosing when, how often, and with whom they mate.

  • Parental Investment Theory (Trivers, 1972):

    • Female investment often includes gestation, nursing, and caregiving.

    • Males invest primarily through sperm production.

Human Context of Investment

  • Mating Investment Dynamics:

    • Men produce roughly 1 billion sperm per month, while women only have around 450 eggs in a lifetime.

  • Female vs Male Offspring Investment Factors:

    • Women: Gestation, childbirth, lactation, caregiving commitments.

    • Men: Sperm production, mating competition, variable parenting roles.

Evolutionarily Adapted Strategies

  • Why do women pursue multiple mates?

    • Good Genes Hypothesis: Potential for genetically superior offspring.

    • Resource Acquisition Hypothesis: Broader access to resources and protection.

    • Mate Switching Hypothesis: Evaluating alternative long-term partners.

Evidence and Research Studies

  • Study Findings:

    • Women considered male financial resources significantly more than men did in personal ads.

    • Preferential attraction to symmetry and health in potential mates.

The Impact of Environment on Mating Preferences

  • Environmental Influence on Mating Strategies:

    • Women in low socioeconomic status may prefer short-term mating due to limited partner resources.

Attraction During Ovulation

  • Behavior Changes:

    • Women more likely to prefer masculine features during ovulation.

    • Changes in social behaviors, including seeking partners while in a fertile phase.

Compatibility in Mating

  • Factors Influencing Compatibility:

    • Similar immune system characteristics and shared values/personalities.

Understanding Long-Term vs Short-Term Mating Behaviors

  • Factors guiding preferences:

    • Different necessities and expectations dominate short-term mating vs long-term relationships.

Overall Study Questions:

  • What strategies do women employ in their mating behaviors?

  • How do biological imperatives interact with sociocultural influences on mating?

  • How are female preferences shaped by evolutionary and social contexts?