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Questions and Answers
What is the primary focus of evolutionary psychology?
What is the primary focus of evolutionary psychology?
Which trait is most valued by women in mate selection according to evolutionary explanations?
Which trait is most valued by women in mate selection according to evolutionary explanations?
What characteristic do men typically seek in women during mate selection from an evolutionary perspective?
What characteristic do men typically seek in women during mate selection from an evolutionary perspective?
What does a waist-hip ratio (WHR) of 0.7 suggest about a woman?
What does a waist-hip ratio (WHR) of 0.7 suggest about a woman?
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Which of the following is NOT considered an adaptive strategy in mate selection for women?
Which of the following is NOT considered an adaptive strategy in mate selection for women?
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What do both men and women ultimately seek in a suitable mate according to evolutionary psychology?
What do both men and women ultimately seek in a suitable mate according to evolutionary psychology?
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In the context of mate selection, what do men often rely on to assess a woman's reproductive potential?
In the context of mate selection, what do men often rely on to assess a woman's reproductive potential?
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How does evolutionary psychology explain the differing mate selection criteria between men and women?
How does evolutionary psychology explain the differing mate selection criteria between men and women?
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Study Notes
Evolutionary Explanations for Behavior
- Darwin's theory of evolution explains how species develop traits to survive in changing environments.
- Evolutionary psychology suggests that human feelings and behaviors have evolved over time. Favorable traits are passed down through natural selection.
- Evolutionary psychology studies psychological traits as adaptations for human survival. Examples include mate selection, disgust, jealousy, and cooperation.
Evolutionary Explanations for Mate Selection
- Mate selection is an adaptive problem for both sexes.
- Certain characteristics indicate higher or lower reproductive success.
- Both men and women seek the highest likelihood of mating with someone who will produce healthy offspring.
Adaptive Problems in Mate Selection (Males/Females)
- Women: prioritize partners who will invest time and resources in raising their children. They prioritize economic security and high status.
- Men: prioritize fertile women. They are attracted to cues of a woman's ability to have healthy children (youth, beauty).
- Men's reproductive potential is often assessed by social/economic success.
- Women's reproductive value is less visible. Men use indirect cues like physical attractiveness to gauge fertility.
Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) Study
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WHR (waist-to-hip ratio) is a strong indicator of female attractiveness, related to reproductive value.
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A WHR of 0.7 (waist 70% of hip width) is considered most attractive, associated with fertility.
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Men find women with a 0.7 WHR to be most attractive, youthful, healthy, and capable of having children.
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Underweight women with 0.7 WHR are seen as attractive but less capable.
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Overweight women with 0.7 WHR are viewed as less attractive but more suitable for motherhood.
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Body fat distribution, as indicated by WHR, serves as a marker for female attractiveness, reproductive status.
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Physical appearance and attraction are deeply rooted in evolution, favoring survival and reproduction.
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Description
Explore the principles of evolutionary psychology as it relates to mate selection. Understand how traits influence reproductive success and the adaptive problems faced by both men and women in choosing partners. This quiz will delve into the characteristics that affect mate selection and the underlying evolutionary explanations.
