Relationships - Sexual Selection

Relationships - Sexual Selection

1. Types of Sexual Selection

   • Intersexual (mate choice)
   • Intrasexual (mate competition)

2. Gender Differences

   • Males
     • Greater desire for casual sex.
     • Seek sex early on in relationship.
     • More women impregnated means more genes passed on.
     • Over short-term men appear to lower standards compared to women.
   • Females
     • Not subjected to same evolutionary pressures as men.
     • Less benefits from casual sex.
   • In the long-term, both sexes typically invest heavily in any offspring.

3. Preferences

   • Males
     • Physical attractiveness
     • Younger partners
   • Females
     • Resources
   • Both sexes look for mates who are intelligent, kind, and dependable.

4. Research Support

   • Penton-Voak et al. (1999) mate choice & menstrual cycle
   • Buss's study of 37 cultures- men do choose younger women
   • Nettle and Clegg (2006) creativity evolved as a result of sexual selection

5. Limitations

   • Validity Issues - Preferences are not the same as choices.
   • Female preferences for high-status men may not be universal (Buller, 2005).
   • Cultural traditions as important as evolutionary forces (Bernstein, 2015)