EVOLUTIONARY
EXPLANATIONS
(+) Research support for inter-sexual selection
In a study, men and women asked people of the
Sexual selection
Any genes helpful with survival, or that promote successful reproduction are naturally opposite sex “I find you to be very attractive, would
selected. you go to bed with me tonight?” 0% of females
Anisogamy is the difference between male sex cells (sperm) and female cells (ova). There agreed, whereas 75% of males agreed. This supports
is a large supply of sperm so they are ‘cheap’ whereas ova are ‘expensive’ as they require the view that females are choosier than males in
more energy to produce them. This results in plenty of fertile males however fertile partner preferences and men choose quantity over
females are a rarer ‘resource’ quality.
This creates two types of mating strategies:
(+)Research support for intra-sexual selection
Inter-sexual selection One study surveyed over 10,000 adults in over 33
Selection of mates BETWEEN sexes i.e. females select males, males select females countries asking them about attributes they find
Female strategy – quality over quantity. important in partner preferences. Findings concluded
Females make a greater investment of time and commitment during reproduction and that females values resource-related characteristics
birth therefore their strategy is to select a partner who is able to provide resources. to provide for offspring e.g. wealth whereas men
Impact of partner preferences – individuals preferences i.e. taller males, increases in the look for signs of productiveness e.g. physical
male population over generations because females choose the tallest males to mate with.
attractiveness and youth.
Fischer’s sexy sons hypothesis: suggests the genes we see today are those with enhances
reproductive success. A female who mates with a male with a certain ’sexy’ trait will mate (-) Social and cultural influences
with them so their children have it. Also known as the ‘runaway process’ Partner preferences have been influenced by
changing social norms and cultural practices. The
Intra-sexual selection wider availability of contraception and the
Selection of mates WITHIN sexes i.e. males compete with other males for mates emancipation of women mean women's partner
Male strategy – quantity over quality. preferences are no longer resource orientated.
Males compete for access to females as sperm is plentiful but fertile females are a limited
This suggests that nowadays partner preferences are
resource.
Physical dimorphism – the physical difference in size and appearance between males and likely to be due to both evolutionary and cultural
females. influences.
, SELF-
FACTORS AFFECTING ATTRACTION: Self-disclosure involves revealing intimate information to another person.
Low risk information is revealed early on in a relationship e.g. name, favourite colour, hobbies
High risk information comes out as the relationship progresses e.g. private information, past family
DISCLOSURE
Social penetration theory – Altman & Taylor
experiences
(+) Correlation between self-disclosure and satisfaction
Self-disclosure limited at start – gradual process of revealing your inner self to someone …between heterosexual partners. They found men and
else. Revealing personal information is a sign of trust, the partner then reciprocates and women who used self-disclosure were more satisfied and
reveals personal information.
As romantic partners increasingly disclose more information, they ‘penetrate’ more
committed to their romantic relationship = increased
deeply into each other’s lives. validity of theory
De-penetration refers to dissatisfied partners self-disclosing less as they disengage from
the relationship. (+) Real life application in improving relationship
Breadth is narrow at the start of a relationship as partners don’t disclose too much satisfaction
information as it may be off putting. As the relationship develops more layers are Can help people who want to improve communication in
gradually revealed and we are likely to reveal more high-risk information so depth their relationships and increase intimacy. A study found
increases.
Reis and Shaver suggested that there must be reciprocity for a relationship to develop.
that 57% of homosexual men and women said that open
Successful relationships will involve disclosure from one partner which is received and honest self-disclosure was the main way they
sensitively by the other partner in turn this should lead to further self-disclosure from maintained and deepened their relationships.
the other partner.
Reciprocity leads to a balance in self-disclosure which deepens the relationship (-) Cultural limitations
One study reviewed research into sexual self-disclosure
Factors involved in self-disclosure and concluded that men and women in the US
Appropriateness of the disclosure
Attributions for the disclosure – reasons we believe a person is self-disclosing
(individualist culture) self-disclose significantly more
Gender differences – women self-disclosing is seen as more appropriate however if a sexual thought and feelings than men and women in
male self-discloses it seems as less appropriate China (collectivist culture). Despite lower levels of
Content of the disclosure – type – highly intimate information may be seen as disclose in China, satisfaction levels were no different
inappropriate and violate social norms at early stages than those from the US.
EXPLANATIONS
(+) Research support for inter-sexual selection
In a study, men and women asked people of the
Sexual selection
Any genes helpful with survival, or that promote successful reproduction are naturally opposite sex “I find you to be very attractive, would
selected. you go to bed with me tonight?” 0% of females
Anisogamy is the difference between male sex cells (sperm) and female cells (ova). There agreed, whereas 75% of males agreed. This supports
is a large supply of sperm so they are ‘cheap’ whereas ova are ‘expensive’ as they require the view that females are choosier than males in
more energy to produce them. This results in plenty of fertile males however fertile partner preferences and men choose quantity over
females are a rarer ‘resource’ quality.
This creates two types of mating strategies:
(+)Research support for intra-sexual selection
Inter-sexual selection One study surveyed over 10,000 adults in over 33
Selection of mates BETWEEN sexes i.e. females select males, males select females countries asking them about attributes they find
Female strategy – quality over quantity. important in partner preferences. Findings concluded
Females make a greater investment of time and commitment during reproduction and that females values resource-related characteristics
birth therefore their strategy is to select a partner who is able to provide resources. to provide for offspring e.g. wealth whereas men
Impact of partner preferences – individuals preferences i.e. taller males, increases in the look for signs of productiveness e.g. physical
male population over generations because females choose the tallest males to mate with.
attractiveness and youth.
Fischer’s sexy sons hypothesis: suggests the genes we see today are those with enhances
reproductive success. A female who mates with a male with a certain ’sexy’ trait will mate (-) Social and cultural influences
with them so their children have it. Also known as the ‘runaway process’ Partner preferences have been influenced by
changing social norms and cultural practices. The
Intra-sexual selection wider availability of contraception and the
Selection of mates WITHIN sexes i.e. males compete with other males for mates emancipation of women mean women's partner
Male strategy – quantity over quality. preferences are no longer resource orientated.
Males compete for access to females as sperm is plentiful but fertile females are a limited
This suggests that nowadays partner preferences are
resource.
Physical dimorphism – the physical difference in size and appearance between males and likely to be due to both evolutionary and cultural
females. influences.
, SELF-
FACTORS AFFECTING ATTRACTION: Self-disclosure involves revealing intimate information to another person.
Low risk information is revealed early on in a relationship e.g. name, favourite colour, hobbies
High risk information comes out as the relationship progresses e.g. private information, past family
DISCLOSURE
Social penetration theory – Altman & Taylor
experiences
(+) Correlation between self-disclosure and satisfaction
Self-disclosure limited at start – gradual process of revealing your inner self to someone …between heterosexual partners. They found men and
else. Revealing personal information is a sign of trust, the partner then reciprocates and women who used self-disclosure were more satisfied and
reveals personal information.
As romantic partners increasingly disclose more information, they ‘penetrate’ more
committed to their romantic relationship = increased
deeply into each other’s lives. validity of theory
De-penetration refers to dissatisfied partners self-disclosing less as they disengage from
the relationship. (+) Real life application in improving relationship
Breadth is narrow at the start of a relationship as partners don’t disclose too much satisfaction
information as it may be off putting. As the relationship develops more layers are Can help people who want to improve communication in
gradually revealed and we are likely to reveal more high-risk information so depth their relationships and increase intimacy. A study found
increases.
Reis and Shaver suggested that there must be reciprocity for a relationship to develop.
that 57% of homosexual men and women said that open
Successful relationships will involve disclosure from one partner which is received and honest self-disclosure was the main way they
sensitively by the other partner in turn this should lead to further self-disclosure from maintained and deepened their relationships.
the other partner.
Reciprocity leads to a balance in self-disclosure which deepens the relationship (-) Cultural limitations
One study reviewed research into sexual self-disclosure
Factors involved in self-disclosure and concluded that men and women in the US
Appropriateness of the disclosure
Attributions for the disclosure – reasons we believe a person is self-disclosing
(individualist culture) self-disclose significantly more
Gender differences – women self-disclosing is seen as more appropriate however if a sexual thought and feelings than men and women in
male self-discloses it seems as less appropriate China (collectivist culture). Despite lower levels of
Content of the disclosure – type – highly intimate information may be seen as disclose in China, satisfaction levels were no different
inappropriate and violate social norms at early stages than those from the US.
