Evolutionary explanation for partner preference

Evolutionary explanation for partner preference

1. advantagous alleles are passed down to offspring - natural selection

2. sexual dimorphism - physical characteristics of humans (males more muscular than females)

   • adaptive advantage

3. sexual selection - natural selection of characteristics increasing reproductive success

   • Reproductive success - the production of healthy offspring + them reproducing themselves
     • males have a lot of sex (lots of sperm) to get their genes in the gene pool
     • males look for 'fertile looking' women
     • Females produce few eggs in lifetime - 300 opps + fertile for shorter period than men
       • females are more selective about who to mate with
         • seeks men with genetic fitness - strength, status and resources
           • females use courtship practices to find available males + spends time w them to maximise chances of male not leaving her n children
             • wants man to spend time n resources on her

4. Attractiveness

   • younger women more physically attractive - youth = fertile
     • big breasts = good for breastfeeding
     • big hips = good childbearing hips
     • small waist = not pregnant w another man
   • older men are more attractive - more resources and can provide
     • kindness is attractive - willing to share resources
   • facial symmetry - only good genes can create that

5. Stratagies

   • males
     • courtship rituals - display their genetic fitness
     • size - demo strength in competitions
     • sperm competition (natural selection) - bigger testes, faster ej + swimmers
     • mate guarding - remain close n keep a close eye on partner so they dont get preg w another man's child - man doesnt want to spend resources on another kid
     • sneak copulation - males mate w other women if given the chance to increase reproductive success chances
       • females gain - genetic diversity if kids from diff fathers
   • females
     • Sexy sons hypothesis - find goodlooking men to have 'sexy sons' so the son can mate easily - pass genes on
     • handicap hypothesis - women attracted to men who can thrive w a handicap = superior genetic fitness/quality
     • courtship - women choose men through this

6. Research

   • 37 cultures - men preferred young physically attractive females, females preferred ambitious rich males
     • gender-based attractiveness ideas are biological in nature
   • women don't say real age on ads to find high quality male before menopause + don't usually say weight
     • male tend to lie about education n income than females
     • resource richness is seen as attractive in males & physical attractiveness is sign of fertility
   • analysis of date ads - men look for health&attractiveness but females look at resources&status
     • evolutionary based gender diffs
   • 42% M look at youth but 25% F do / 44% M look at attractiveness but 22% F do
   • women w symmetrical breasts are more fertile than ones that aren't sym
     • symm bodies = reproductive fitness

7. Evaluation

   • evolution shapes human culture - language, art, humour, music - acts as a courtship displays, attracts partners
   • evolutionary explanation assumes hetrosex & that all relationships are sexual - oversimplified, doesn't explain longdistance or couples who don't want kids
   • men use drugs n do risky things to advertise their reproductive fitness = handicap hypothesis
   • checking ur partner's texts/emails/social media = mate guarding
   • some men go after older women - goes against evo theory BUT might be wanting to mate w females proven to be fertile
   • F alter their appearances + lie about age & M exaggerate resources + fake their love for girls = genders maximise their reproductive potential thro strategies
   • women don't need men like they used to - can get high paying jobs etc