Darwin therefore suggested sexual selection stating that any characteristic that benefits reproductive success will become the norm over time as it is consistently selected. Sexual selection involves inter and intra sexual selection. Intra sexual selection is the evolutionary process in which members of one sex (usually males) compete with each other for members of the opposite sex. Those who win are able to pass on their genes, which include the factors that made the winning person successful. This helps to ensure the offspring’s survival whilst passing on successful genes.
Sexual selection classified by Darwin. In humans, intersexual selection applies, involving members of one sex choose who they want to mate with from the opposite sex. Women choose partners and men compete. Sexy sons’ hypothesis: relates to inter sexual selection, showing women choose their partner depending on what features he has. She chooses the most desirable characteristics that her offspring might inherit.
Males had a larger canine size and bite force compared to females signifying their ability to feed efficiently , which is important for growth and survival and possibly mating success. Introduction The observable difference between males and females of the same species is called sexual dimorphism. Sexual dimorphism in size and morphology are is visible throughout the animal kingdom. Charles Darwin’s sexual selection hypothesis states that sexual dimorphism evolves when characters that have an advantage in either competition for mates or mate choice are selected for within one sex (Hendrick et al.,1989). However, it was noted that in some cases, sexual dimorphism could have evolved from food competition between sexes, or differences in the reproductive roles.
Describe evolutionary explanations for the attraction of a celebrity (10 marks) The evolutionary theory looks at how behaviors displayed today may have been a source of survival for our ancestors. Attraction to creative individuals A particular characteristic displayed by humans is our love for novelty which is known as ‘neophilia’. Before TV and computers, ancestors would have to engage in activities that would amuse the others and neophilia would have led to more creative displays by people perceived to be potential partners. This explains how characteristics that develop in humans such as love for music and art – these are highly valued by individuals when choosing a mate. We are drawn to individuals who display these creative skills, and the magnification of such characteristics that are broadcast regularly into our living rooms makes our attraction to such figures even greater.
Therefore, the role differences we observe are more of a product of our biological inheritance than acquired through socialisation. As the evolutionary approach is a biological one, it suggests that aspects of human behaviour have been coded by our genes because they were or are adaptive. However, a debate of this approach is the nature vs. nurture approach, nature supporting the evolutionary approach being that we have evolved through survival value and its ability to increase an individual’s opportunities to pass on their genes, an example showing this was Bowlby’s theory of attachment – concerning the role of evolution is the explanation of stress as an adaptive response to environmental pressures. Animals born without such responses die quickly. Nurture, on the other hand, is a view proposed by the social approach suggesting behaviour is affected by experience and environment.
For some, our concept of gender and sex contribute to the ways we embrace gender and sex in diversity but for some, it does not. For example, in our corporate society, many males can benefit from getting a promotion over females because of their sex. In this case, males are being embraced by the concept of gender and sex and for females, some of them are being rejected from their promotions because of
Describe and evaluate sexual selection (8+16 marks) Sexual selection is based upon the idea that men want to pass on their genes to future offspring, and women want to pick a man with the best possible genes for their child, therefore arguing that our preferences and reproductive habits are innate and therefore due to nature. The theory was first proposed y Darwin who said that two processes took place, the first being intrasexual selection; this is where members of one sex compete with each other for access to members of the opposite sex, the winners are able to mate and pass on their genes. This means that the ‘winning trait’ will be passed on to their offspring. The other process is called intersexual selection, where the preference of one sex dictates the area in which the other sex must compete for their attention. This may be economic.
Within humans many adaptations have happened through Darwin’s theory of natural selection, one of these adaptations is called Theory of Mind. Byrne and Whiten defined the 'Theory of mind' as the psychological characteristic that allows humans to interact effectively with each other. This can be defined in terms of the ability to know or intuit what another person may think, or how another may act or feel, in order to adjust their own actions (Phoenix, 2007 p.133). Considering this theory from an evolutionary point of view, the adaptive function results in individuals enhancing the
The Influence of Genetic Inheritance on Human Behaviors The Case Study of Twins Genetic inheritance is the transmission of genetic material (genes) from parents to offspring, almost all physical and many personality traits and unique abilities are found in the genes. Just like the environment, the genetics plays an important role in contributing to individual variations in human behaviors. In this case, the human behavior that is studied through twin studies is neuroplasticity by comparing the concordance rates of both homosexual potencies and IQ levels of twins. One of the most common ways to study the possible correlation of genetic inheritance and the behavior is through correlational twin studies. Through previous studies on genetic inheritance, it is known that the higher the genetic relationship the more similar individuals will be if particular characteristic being investigated is inherited.
Men get paid more money from sponsorship, clubs, and tournaments than women. People have been arguing about how women deserve equal prize money. The debate comes from both sides of the story, negatives and positives. Money is given to athletes in sports who are the best, some believe that as men are faster they should be paid more, while others believe that women deserve the same amount. In Australia some of the highest paid athletes are football players while female sports do not get paid as much.