Long Term Mating Preferences for Males

Introduction to Long Term Mating Preferences

• Focus on males' long-term mating preferences in evolutionary psychology.

• Two theoretical issues to address:

  • Why do men engage in long-term mating?

  • What defines the value of a female mate for males?

Long-Term vs. Short-Term Mating

• Mating options influence reproductive potential:

  • Long-term mating: Male limited by biological capacity of female to produce offspring (approx. 1 child per year over 20-25 years).

  • Short-term mating: Male can increase reproductive potential significantly; potential for significant reproductive gain (e.g., 4 children per year if mating with 4 females per year).

• Reproductive potential increases with short-term mating:

  • 12-fold increase possible with more frequent female access.

• Long-term mating prevalence despite greater potential for short-term mating raises questions about its evolutionary advantages.

Reasons for Long-Term Mating

1. Competition and Female Choice:

   • Females are more selective; males must compete to gain access to females.

   • Males must offer qualities that females desire (i.e., investment in long-term relationships).

   • also get females with most value.. thus more competition

2. Investment in Offspring:

   • Both parents can increase offspring survival through investment.

   • extbf{Paternity Uncertainty}:

     • Males uncertain of biological paternity in short-term mating situations.

     • Long-term relationships provide more certainty and opportunities for investment.

     • Males are more likely to invest if paternity is confirmed by long-term presence.

3. Increased Offspring Survival:

   • Children benefit from both mother's and father's care and investment (resources, protection).

   • Example: In precarious societies like the Ache indians, , the absence of a father dramatically reduces offspring survival rates.

   • Investment in high-quality offspring requires a secure mating situation which is better facilitated by long-term mating.

4. Teaching and Social Connections:

   • Fathers provide not just resources but also social teaching and connections that can benefit children's status.

   • Children from fathers of higher social status may have greater life opportunities.

5. Social Benefits for Males:

   • Societal perceptions favor married men; long-term mating can enhance social status and trustworthiness vs. being a bachelor.

   • Evolutionary Perspective: Long-term mating may lead to social alliances beneficial for male and offspring's survival.

Female Mate Value and Key Features

• Core Features Defining Female Mate Value:

  • Male's survival and reproductive needs heavily influenced by female mate selection.

  • Males: less reliant on females for survival, but highly dependent on females for reproductive success.

Concept of Reproductive Capacity

• Reproductive Capacity: Key element influencing male’s choice of female mates.

  • Two dimensions:

  1. Fertility: Probability of conceiving offspring when mating.

     • Peaks in young adulthood (early 20s) and drops with age.

  2. Reproductive Value: Total potential offspring a female can have over her lifespan.

     • Influenced by survival into reproductive years as they will also live longer (younger females generally have higher reproductive value).

Factors Defining Reproductive Capacity looked at by men. men should have a preference for these attributes in women.

age

health

other factors like hormones and genes