Since 1939 the traits that males and females desire when choosing a mate of the opposite gender has remained relatively unchanged. Four characteristics have remained at the top of the list since this study was originally conducted in 1939 these characteristics are; dependable character, emotional stability/maturity; mutual attraction/love; and a pleasing disposition (Henery, Helm, & Cruz, 2103). For this study the researchers duplicated a study that has been replicated several times since the initial study in 1939. The researchers found similar results to those found in the previous studies(s), with one major difference pleasing disposition had dropped slightly. The researchers found that dependable character, emotional stability and mutual …show more content…
(Buunk, Dijkstra, Fetchenhauer, & Kenrick, 2002). The researchers for this study looked at how the value of different characteristics (Potential income, Education, Attractiveness, self-confidence, dominance and social position), and varied depending on the level of relationship commitment (sexual fantasy, one night stand, being in love, serious relationship, and marriage).In regards to income women desired a mate who had a higher income, while men desired a mate with and income that was equal or similar to theirs. In regards to education women desired a potential mate who had a higher level of education while men desired a mate whose education was similar to theirs. Researchers also found that as relationship commitment decreased the desire for an educated partner decreased. Men were found to desire mates who were more physically attractive than females and the preference for physical attractiveness increased as relationship commitment decreased. In regards to self-confidence males desired mates who were slightly more self-confident than themselves, while females desired mates who were significantly more self-confident than themselves. Regardless of commitment level women desired a mate who was highly intelligent, whereas men’s preferences for an intelligent mate decreased gradually as commitment level decreased. Both males and females reported preferring …show more content…
Through using written hypothetical encounters the researchers carefully controlled the information the participants received and other confounding variables (Conner, Sutherland, Kennedy, Grearly, Berry, 2008). The researchers found that alcohol intoxication is more important in relation to men’s decision making than it is for women. Researchers also found that as the men’s intoxication increased so did their intentions to have sex. (Conner et al,
Reproduction in Homo sapiens, as in all animals, is a primary driving force and has been elaborated upon since the beginnings of society. Humans must take part in sexual reproduction to produce offspring, thus initiation behaviors can be studied. Commonly, the male makes advances and the female is the selector, or chooses the mate. For humans, this holds true and behavior is modified to maximize competitive receptability. This phenomenon carries across all cultural boundaries and is deeply rooted in the overall behavior patterns in the people of the culture. People try to refine their natural appearance to maximize mating opportunity. The males attempt to enhance features for success in initiation and females compete for receptability completeness.
Social reproduction is the reproduction of cultural, human, and social capital in society. Therefore languages, traditions, cultural values, education, food security, and social circles are passed down from one generation to the next through Karl Mannheim’s concept of “fresh contact” and through society as a whole. Social reproduction is effective when social structures and equality within society are maintained. Inequality, poverty, and social changes that force society to adapt can impede the process of social reproduction causing what is known as a “crisis in social reproduction” (Wells, 2009). Born into Brothels demonstrates a crisis of social reproduction that negatively impacts the lives of children living in Sonagachi as a result of globalization, neoliberal policies, poverty, lack of adequate education and social structures to pass down capital, and the stigma of prostitution. Additionally, it shows the need for children to make economic contributions to their families that prevent them from leaving the brothel.
Natural and sexual selection are not random processes. If there is no difference between the individuals within the species there would be no selection. Sexual selection is related to mating, it acts on individual’s ability to obtain or successfully copulate with a partner. The idea of sexual selection was introduced by Charles Darwin in 1871; he revealed that there are organisms with traits which are not explained by the concept natural selection, for example the tail of a male peacock. His found two main ways in which sexual selection works, these are intra-sexual competition and inter-sexual selection. Intra sexual competition happens within species, usually between males. They compete against each other to be chosen as a mate by a member of opposite sex. Inter-sexual selection is choosing a mate among the members of opposite sex, usually done by females.
Darwin's theory of sexual selection is an intriguing one because it offers an explanation of human striving and cultural value systems. The theory is that humans who are more sexually desirable will have more offspring and thus their traits will be passed on to future generations to a greater extent than those of less sexually desirable humans. As opposed to Darwin's other theory, natural selection, those who are the best adapted to their environment will be more likely to pass on their genes, or, "survival of the fittest", you might call sexual selection "survival of the sexiest." The theory is intended to in part explain why, when humans diverged from other primates, the human brain tripled in size in just two million years. At first glance, this theory also seems to explain much of the motivation behind human culture and achievement. Upon closer inspection, there are some fairly conspicuous problems with it, especially when it is extended to describe not only human evolution in the distant past but it the present, but it may still be the most plausible explanation available to explain why humans mental capacities have expanded so far beyond those of our primate relatives.
A psychological mechanism is defined as an adaptation of human behavior that evolved due to evolutionary pressures. This paper focuses on the psychological mechanism of human mating strategies and the evolution of mate preferences. There are several theories to explain how differences in male and female mating strategies developed. This paper explores the parental investment theory, male mating effort as well as the role of different adaptive problems faced by males and females. The traits that humans find attractive in a partner are the ones that confer a reproductive advantage to the individual (Buss, 1994). Early in the literature there is evidence to support the theory that males and females differ in their mate preferences in such a way that males are unselective while females are choosy (Darwin 1871). However, there are also similarities in what each sex finds attractive. It is important to look at how these mating strategies evolved and why adaptive mate preferences continue to exist.
Introduction The topic of gender differences must understandably be approached with caution in our modern world. Emotionally charged and fraught with ideas about political correctness, gender can be a difficult subject to address, particularly when discussed in correlation to behavior and social behavior. Throughout history, many people have strove to understand what makes men and women different. Until the modern era, this topic was generally left up to religious leaders and philosophers to discuss. However, with the acquisition of more specialized medical knowledge of human physiology and the advent of anthropology, we now know a great deal more about gender differences than at any other point in history.
This chapter covers the variations of selection. Selection is a process, a description of how genes that produce better adaptations become more frequent over time. Species don’t try to adapt to their environment. Adaptation to the environment is inevitable if a species has the right kind of genetic variation. (pg. 117) The thought that “everything happens by chance” is essentially wrong. Evolution by selection is a combination of randomness and lawfulness. First a “random” process is the occurrence of mutations that generate an array of genetic variants, both good and bad; and then a “lawful” process (natural selection) that creates these variations. (pg.118) DNA is random, and this shows in humans and animals. For example, a humans parents
For centuries now, we have been taught by society that being monogamous is the socially accepted norm. In fact, having more than one marital or sexual partner in many cultures is considered to be taboo. Yet that leaves many people wondering how that tradition was even constructed and whether or not we should continue to live in a monogamous manner. In this paper, we are going to examine if being monogamous is truly a part of human nature and whether or not we are meant to be with only one marital or sexual partner throughout the course of our lives. Now more so than ever, society is moving in a direction that challenges traditional ways of life and many people are no longer following this socially constructed norm. In fact, monogamy has become a very popular, controversial topic that is continuously being addressed by the media and it has people second-guessing if remaining monogamous fits their ideal lifestyle. This is an especially important topic for our generation, due to the fact that we are currently at the stage in our lives where we set goals for ourselves that will pave the roads of our futures. Deciding whether or not to be monogamous is just as important as picking career paths and it holds just as much significance in the way it affects the rest of our lives. This is a problem in relational communication because whether we decide to be monogamous or non-monogamous, our decision will ultimately affect the way we interact with others and the way we approach intimate relationships. With today’s society slowly moving against monogamy, it’s time to decide if limiting ourselves to one marital and sexual partner is really in our nature, or if it’s just a tradition of the past that no longer holds the social significance that ...
Through competition men demonstrate dominance through various ornamental displays. Women, however, compete through signals showing reproductive prowess for genetically fit and reliable (investment for child rearing) mates. Inter-sexual selection further influences sexual influences regarding choosing a mate. Humans desire those who show masculinity, an hourglass figure, and symmetrical facial characteristics. These traits influence who we pick for a mates, possibly more so than other attributes such as: humor and
...ive in their agreement with premarital sex. A relationship, although very minor, was noted between those who were the most okay with pre-marital sex were the women who were more open and high viewers. We found a main effect for frequency alone, but not one for level of openness on its own. There was an interaction effect for the two independent variables because the lines are not parallel (as shown below). Heavy viewers who were also more open about their sexuality agreed with pre-marital sex more than just a factor alone.
In Prenger’s editorial I agree in some respect with his idea of 3 qualities that the fairer sex looks for but, I also believe that there is more to what a woman wants. Prenger clams that women want a man who is strong, has integrity, and ambition. These qualities do make and admirable man but, there is more to finding a sole mate than that.
It was deemed that, the higher the status of the mate the greater his ability to control his resources. In several cultures around the globe, the term ‘high status’ is associated with intelligence, emotional stability and wealth, whereby these are all desirable traits (Furnham 2001). Surprisingly in my culture, most women are not interested in some of these traits. Men, who are different in solving the problem of selecting a mate. They detect high reproductive potential in women by favoring features that indicates youth or fertility. These features comprise of: clear eyes, lustrous hair, clear skin and full lips etc. These features designates that a woman is at her maximum reproductive potential. Although both gender values a particular feature in their mates, female’s level are high, due to adequate investment that are greater on their end. Therefore we see the evolutionary theory play a part whereby ‘survival of the fittest’ where the males compete, and the man with the resources that can provide will avail. This goes back to the animal world, for example the peacock and its tail, attracting the
Stroebe, W., Insko, A., Thompson, D., & Layton, D. (1971). Effects of physical attractiveness, attitude similarity, and sex on various aspects of interpersonal attraction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 18, 79-91.
Sexual selection is the characteristics that are exaggerated beyond what is needed for survival or reproduction, due to combat, preference for the trait by the opposite sex or sperm competition (L. Meek, Personal Communication, February 10, 2016). The male and female choices must be important in the human evolution of exaggerated characteristics because we are visual animals; we tend to use our visual ability to influence our decisions in various aspects of our lives. Both sexes are choosy about physical appearance, males and females have different body traits shaped by sexual selection. As Miller (2000) noted, males are taller, heavier on average, higher metabolic rates, upper body strength, more hair, and deeper voices. Women have enlarged
“From this moment, I, take you, as my best friend for life. I pledge to honor, encourage, and support you through our walk together. I promise to provide for your needs and always make you a priority in my life. With every beat of my heart, I will love you. This is my solemn vow” (Daversa). This vow is an example of words expressed between a man and woman on their wedding day as they face one another and declare their love in front of family and friends. However, when the same man says these words on more than one occasion to different women, then the validity is called into question. Monogamy is the practice or state of being married to, or having a sexual relationship with one person at a time (Little et. al. 1275). Although rare, monogamous relationships can be observed among animals in the wild. Beavers, which mate for life, use their union as a survival tool to construct and maintain their dams (Caraza). While humans are considered animals, they have developed beyond their counterparts to develop a whole set of complicated emotions - love, jealousy, rage, and depression. Generally, animals have no need for emotional fulfillment. Their brains do not have the capacity to house these feelings that humans have come to develop. Humans, on the other hand, have emotional needs, and among these are to express love and to receive love in return. Man's greatest fear is loneliness, and monogamy helps give humans that deep, emotional connection with another human being that we all need to survive (Becker 34). Monogamy provides individuals with emotional and physical stability that cannot be achieved with alternatives to monogamy.