Relationship Between Sexual Selection And Human Reproductive Behaviour
What is the relationship between sexual selection and human reproductive behaviour?
Sexual selection is the complementary force in which humans (and animals) compete with each other in order to mate with the partner of their choice (the ones which poses the most adaptive traits) in order to pass on their genes, producing healthy offspring. There are two types of sexual selection: Intersexual selection is where there is competition between the sexes; females are choosey because they have more to loose: Intra-sexual selection, this is competition within males as females are scarce resource for which males compete.
Buss (1989) conducted a cross-cultural study (37 different cultures) and 9000 adults. The study was in the form of a questionnaire/survey. The findings were: females more than male’s valued earning potential (significant in 36/37 cultures), males more than females valued physical attributes (significant in 34/37 cultures), females more than males valued industriousness and ambition (which are clue to gain resources), males more than females value chastity, males prefer younger females than themselves, females prefer older males- they will be able to provide care for themselves and their off-spring. What this study shows is that it agrees with what the evolutionary theory says; males look for physical attractiveness as it …show more content…
However the evolutionary explanation can be accused of sexism as it has ignored homosexual relationships in which there is no possible way to pass on genes. Even thought those in homosexual relationships are unable to pass on their traits they still show the suggested adaptations e.g. females are less willing to engage in casual sex (Buss & Schmidt 1993) and males are looking for young attractive partners, not caring about recourses. Also males in a homosexual relationship are also more
Sexual selection is the complementary force in which humans (and animals) compete with each other in order to mate with the partner of their choice (the ones which poses the most adaptive traits) in order to pass on their genes, producing healthy offspring. There are two types of sexual selection: Intersexual selection is where there is competition between the sexes; females are choosey because they have more to loose: Intra-sexual selection, this is competition within males as females are scarce resource for which males compete.
Buss (1989) conducted a cross-cultural study (37 different cultures) and 9000 adults. The study was in the form of a questionnaire/survey. The findings were: females more than male’s valued earning potential (significant in 36/37 cultures), males more than females valued physical attributes (significant in 34/37 cultures), females more than males valued industriousness and ambition (which are clue to gain resources), males more than females value chastity, males prefer younger females than themselves, females prefer older males- they will be able to provide care for themselves and their off-spring. What this study shows is that it agrees with what the evolutionary theory says; males look for physical attractiveness as it …show more content…
However the evolutionary explanation can be accused of sexism as it has ignored homosexual relationships in which there is no possible way to pass on genes. Even thought those in homosexual relationships are unable to pass on their traits they still show the suggested adaptations e.g. females are less willing to engage in casual sex (Buss & Schmidt 1993) and males are looking for young attractive partners, not caring about recourses. Also males in a homosexual relationship are also more