Evolutionary explanation
- 1. EVOLUTIONARY EXPLANATIONS OF RELATIONSHIPS Understand concept of ‘Sexual Selection’
- 2. Reminder… ◦What are the 6 stages of Rollie and Duck’s model of Relationship Dissolution? BIPDSGDR Name one study in support of Duck How did Akert et al criticise this model?
- 4. Evolutionary Psychology ◦All behaviour is rooted in: ◦1. Survival ◦2. Ensuring ‘reproductive success’
- 5. ‘Sexual Selection’ ◦ Natural Selection – the most basic process of evolution ◦ Those who are best adapted to their environment will survive. ◦ ‘Survival of the fittest’ ◦ Surviving is futile if you don’t pass on your genes and create a genetic ‘lineage’
- 6. ‘Sexual Selection’ ◦The probability of passing on our genes depends on survival… ◦… but also our ability to attract a mate
- 7. ‘Sexual Selection’ ◦‘Sexual Selection’ is… ◦ the process by which a species changes over time as a result of passing on genes that make one individual more attractive to the opposite sex.
- 8. Sexual Selection ◦Adaptations occur as a result of competition ◦Sexual Selection occurs as a result of competition for mates
- 9. Natural Selection vs Sexual Selection ◦ Survival of the fittest vs. Survival of the sexiest!
- 10. Sexual Selection ◦ Sexual selection is driven from ‘Mate Preference’ ◦ Female Pehen wants the most colourful male ◦ Male Peacock wants the healthiest female ◦ Sexual selection is driven from ‘Mate Preference’ ◦ Female Pehen wants the most colourful male ◦ Male Peacock wants the healthiest female
- 11. Mate Preference in Humans… ◦ Singh (1993) ◦ Across cultures, there is a male preference for low waist- ratios (0.7) in women ◦ This produces a typical hour-glass shape ◦ Preference exists despite differences in weight preferences across cultures
- 12. Singh et al (1993) Preferences for shape A was found cross-culturally Hour Glass figures demonstrate fertility. This is an appealing characteristic for a reproductive male
- 13. David Buss (1989) ◦ Cross-cultural study ◦ Questionnaire given to men and women asking about mate- preferences… ◦ Your task… get a minimum of 1 male and 1 female to fill out this questionnaire ◦ Bring your results to Monday’s lesson
- 14. Sexual Selection ◦ Physical Characteristics may have evolved in order to attract a mate rather than survive ◦ Sexual Selection can also influence our behaviour…
- 15. ‘Reproductive Behaviour’ ◦‘Behaviour patterns associated with courtship, copulation and post-copulatory behaviour’
- 16. Reproductive Behaviour in humans ◦Differences in Quantity of mates ◦Differences in Longevity of mates ◦Differences in Sexual Jealousy ◦Differences in Sexual Fantasies