Relationships
Evolutionary Explanations for Partner Preferences
Sexual selection:
Sexual selection
- Genes selected that promote survival (natural selection), or successful reproduction (sexual
selection).
Anisogamy
- Male gametes are produced in large numbers, female gametes are relatively rare. This gives rise
to two mating strategies.
Inter-sexual selection
- Between (inter) the sexes. The preferred female strategy, select quality (e.g. genetic fitness).
- Females invest more in offspring so choosy (Trivers), choices determine features passed on e.g.
height, runaway process/sexy sons hypothesis (Fisher).
Intra-sexual selection
- Within (intra) the sexes. The preferred male strategy, seeks quantity (sperm plentiful).
- Males seek signs of fertility (e.g. youthfulness, narrow waist), compete for fertile females, pass
on ‘victorious’ genes (e.g. larger body, aggression).
Evaluation:
Research support for inter-sexual selection
- 75% of men agreed to sexual requests from women, 0% women agreed to men's requests (Clark
and Hatfield).
Counterpoint
- Sexual selection simplistic, male/female strategies similar when seeking long-term relationships
(Buss and Schmitt).
Research support for intra-sexual selection
- 10,000 adults questioned in 33 countries, men seek signs of reproductive capacity (e.g. youth),
women want resources (Buss).
Social and cultural influences underestimated
- Rapid changes in partner preferences due to changing social norms (e.g. contraception,
workplace roles) (Bereczkei et al.).
Sexual selection and homosexuality
- Some argue that sexual selection theory can’t explain preferences of homosexual men and
women, but homsexuals male/female stratagies differ just like heterosexuals (Lawson et al.).
Self-disclosure
The theory:
Social penetration theory
, - Partners penetrate more deeply into each other’s lives with self-disclosure, a sign of trust (Altman
and Taylor).
Breadth and depth of self-disclosure
- Layers of an onion metaphor, at start reveal lots of superficial information (breadth) but then
move deeper. Depenetration as well.
Reciprocity of self-disclosure
- Disclosure must be returned, not just depth and breadth (Reis and Shaver).
Evaluation:
Research support
- Positive correlation between satisfaction and self-disclosure (Sprecher and Hendrick), especially
when partners take turns (Sprecher et al.).
Counterpoint
- Correlation research does not show disclosure causes satisfaction (could be vice versa, or both
caused by time spent together).
Real-world application
- 57% of homsexual men and women said they use self-disclosure as a maintenance strategy, a
skill that can be learned (Haas and Stafford).
Cultural differences
- Less sexual self-disclosure in collectivist cultures about sexual thoughts, but experience same
satisfaction (Tang et al.).
Self-disclosure and breakdown
- Increased self-disclosure is part of relationship formation but also increases in relationship
breakdown (Duck).
Physical Attractiveness
The theory:
Explaining the importance of physical attractiveness
- Symmetrical face is attractive because it’s an honest sign of genetic fitness, neotenous female
faces trigger caring instinct (Shackelford and Larsen). Both naturally selected.
The halo effect
- We have positive stereotypes of physically attractive people and assume they possess other
positive characteristics (Dion et al.).
The matching hypothesis
- Computer dance study, no support - chose most physically attractive (Walster et al.) but support
from Berscheid et al.(chose a similar level of physical attractiveness).
Evaluation:
Research support for the halo effect
- Attractive people rated as more politically competent, implications for politics (Palmer and
Peterson).
Evolutionary explanation
- Some females (small nose, large eyes) are considered attractive across cultures, sexual
selection (Cunningham et al.).
Research challenging the matching hypothesis
Evolutionary Explanations for Partner Preferences
Sexual selection:
Sexual selection
- Genes selected that promote survival (natural selection), or successful reproduction (sexual
selection).
Anisogamy
- Male gametes are produced in large numbers, female gametes are relatively rare. This gives rise
to two mating strategies.
Inter-sexual selection
- Between (inter) the sexes. The preferred female strategy, select quality (e.g. genetic fitness).
- Females invest more in offspring so choosy (Trivers), choices determine features passed on e.g.
height, runaway process/sexy sons hypothesis (Fisher).
Intra-sexual selection
- Within (intra) the sexes. The preferred male strategy, seeks quantity (sperm plentiful).
- Males seek signs of fertility (e.g. youthfulness, narrow waist), compete for fertile females, pass
on ‘victorious’ genes (e.g. larger body, aggression).
Evaluation:
Research support for inter-sexual selection
- 75% of men agreed to sexual requests from women, 0% women agreed to men's requests (Clark
and Hatfield).
Counterpoint
- Sexual selection simplistic, male/female strategies similar when seeking long-term relationships
(Buss and Schmitt).
Research support for intra-sexual selection
- 10,000 adults questioned in 33 countries, men seek signs of reproductive capacity (e.g. youth),
women want resources (Buss).
Social and cultural influences underestimated
- Rapid changes in partner preferences due to changing social norms (e.g. contraception,
workplace roles) (Bereczkei et al.).
Sexual selection and homosexuality
- Some argue that sexual selection theory can’t explain preferences of homosexual men and
women, but homsexuals male/female stratagies differ just like heterosexuals (Lawson et al.).
Self-disclosure
The theory:
Social penetration theory
, - Partners penetrate more deeply into each other’s lives with self-disclosure, a sign of trust (Altman
and Taylor).
Breadth and depth of self-disclosure
- Layers of an onion metaphor, at start reveal lots of superficial information (breadth) but then
move deeper. Depenetration as well.
Reciprocity of self-disclosure
- Disclosure must be returned, not just depth and breadth (Reis and Shaver).
Evaluation:
Research support
- Positive correlation between satisfaction and self-disclosure (Sprecher and Hendrick), especially
when partners take turns (Sprecher et al.).
Counterpoint
- Correlation research does not show disclosure causes satisfaction (could be vice versa, or both
caused by time spent together).
Real-world application
- 57% of homsexual men and women said they use self-disclosure as a maintenance strategy, a
skill that can be learned (Haas and Stafford).
Cultural differences
- Less sexual self-disclosure in collectivist cultures about sexual thoughts, but experience same
satisfaction (Tang et al.).
Self-disclosure and breakdown
- Increased self-disclosure is part of relationship formation but also increases in relationship
breakdown (Duck).
Physical Attractiveness
The theory:
Explaining the importance of physical attractiveness
- Symmetrical face is attractive because it’s an honest sign of genetic fitness, neotenous female
faces trigger caring instinct (Shackelford and Larsen). Both naturally selected.
The halo effect
- We have positive stereotypes of physically attractive people and assume they possess other
positive characteristics (Dion et al.).
The matching hypothesis
- Computer dance study, no support - chose most physically attractive (Walster et al.) but support
from Berscheid et al.(chose a similar level of physical attractiveness).
Evaluation:
Research support for the halo effect
- Attractive people rated as more politically competent, implications for politics (Palmer and
Peterson).
Evolutionary explanation
- Some females (small nose, large eyes) are considered attractive across cultures, sexual
selection (Cunningham et al.).
Research challenging the matching hypothesis
