Courtship Case Study

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In another study on courtship behaviors conducted by Anthony Paik and Vernon Woodley certain an extended use of courtship behaviors is needed before sexual intercourse can occur. They found that courtship signals where most important when the two potential partners did not know one another. The use of courtship behaviors demonstrates an individual’s level of investment and capital. Courtship behaviors can be used as a measure for how much a potential partner is willing to commit to the potential relationship. Courtship signs can also demonstrate what a potential partner has to offer in a potential relationship. If a potential partner does not exhibit a high level of commitment or potential then the individual being courted may decided to not …show more content…

The four distinct types of behaviors included nominal, going with, social, and extensive. Going with is related to couples that do not a large deal of experience in dating, but want to attempt to be labeled as being a couple. Nominal and going with are indicative of individuals who are still attempt to reach a sexual relationship. Extensive is when a individual investments a great deal of time as to suggests a high level of commitment and willingness to enter a long term relationship. Paik and Woodley’s study is mainly concerned with the role that courtship behaviors play in onset of a sexual relationship. However, their study is important because it demonstrates that even when both potential partners are mainly concerned with having a sexual relationship they still gauge whom to approach and who to allow to approach them based on courtship signals. This may suggest that even if the intent is to have a long term or short-term relationship is one’s goal courtship signals are an important part in deciding whether or not to pursue a potential …show more content…

However, one vocal signal that plays a role in courtship is humor. Eric Rittman Bressler examined the role that humor plays as a courtship signal in his dissertation. Bressler used Sexual Selection Theory as a basis to determine whether or not humor evolved a sexually selected trait. Bressler was able to develop a questionnaire that consisted of four statements that individuals answered by stating if the agreed or disagreed and to what extent. The four statements where the following ; When I am on a date, I joke around more than I typically do, On average I think that making someone of the opposite sex laugh is more enjoyable than making someone of the same sex laugh, I try to impress people that I find sexually attractive by making them laugh, I am always trying to make people of the opposite sex laugh. What he found was that both males and females significantly felt that their willingness to make someone laugh is higher when in the presence of someone of the opposite sex. However, men’s average in regard to this statement was much higher suggesting that men’s willingness to make an individual laugh is greater when in the presence of someone of

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