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True or False?
Natural selection is the process whereby behaviours and traits which are useful for survival and reproduction are retained – and those which are not eventually die out.
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True or False?
Natural selection is the process whereby behaviours and traits which are useful for survival and reproduction are retained – and those which are not eventually die out.
True.
Natural selection is the process whereby behaviours and traits which are useful for survival and reproduction are retained – and those which are not eventually die out.
What is evolutionary psychology?
Evolutionary psychology is part of the biological approach to explaining behaviour (based on Darwin’s theory). It explains how and why behaviours e.g. aggression, memory, language, and partner preference are the products of natural selection.
True or False?
Adaptive behaviours are those which decrease the chances of survival and reproductive success.
False.
Adaptive behaviours are those which increase the chances of survival and reproductive success which is why they are passed down through the generations.
What is an evolutionary explanation for partner preference?
An evolutionary explanation for partner preference suggests that males seek young, healthy, and fertile partners, while females seek mates with resources and stability for offspring.
True or False?
According to the evolutionary explanation for partner preference, males are generally more selective in choosing sexual partners than females.
False.
According to the evolutionary explanation for partner preference, females are generally more selective in choosing sexual partners than males due to the theory of anisogamy.
What is an example of a proximate (current) cause of partner preference behaviour?
An example of a proximate (current) cause of partner preference behaviour could be jealousy and the desire to keep one's partner close.
What are some flaws in the evolutionary explanation of partner preference?
Some flaws in the evolutionary explanation of partner preference include:
its reductionist nature
its tendency towards stereotyping and sexism
a lack of accommodation for homosexuality
the inability to account for individual variations in preferences and behaviours
True or False?
Buss (1989) conducted a cross-cultural large-scale survey of attitudes towards partner preferences to investigate evolutionary explanations of mate selection.
True.
Buss (1989) conducted a cross-cultural large-scale survey of attitudes towards partner preferences to investigate evolutionary explanations of mate selection.
True or False?
Clarke & Hatfield (1989) conducted a laboratory experiment to investigate female choosiness in partner selection.
False.
Clarke & Hatfield (1989) conducted a field experiment, not a laboratory experiment, to investigate female choosiness in partner selection.
Who investigates evolutionary explanations for partner preferences using a cross-cultural large scale survey?
Buss et al. (1989) investigates evolutionary explanations for partner preferences using a cross-cultural large-scale survey.
Who comprises the sample of Buss et al. (1989)?
The sample of Buss et al. (1989) comprises a total of 10,047 participants from 33 countries and 5 islands aged from 19 to 28 years.
True or False?
Self-report methods are used in Buss et al. (1989) to gather data e.g. questionnaires about attitudes towards partner preference and ranking of characteristics sought in a partner.
True.
Self-report methods are used in Buss et al. (1989) to gather data e.g. questionnaires about attitudes towards partner preference and ranking of characteristics sought in a partner.
In Buss et al. (1989), do more males or more females show a preference for a younger partner and rate 'good looks' highly?
In Buss et al. (1989), more males show a preference for a younger partner and rate 'good looks' higher than females do.
What do most females in the Buss et al. (1989) study value highly in male partners?
Most females in Buss et al. (1989) value financial security, ambition and industriousness highly in male partners.
What are the findings of Buss et al. (1989) about the majority of Western, individualistic cultures regarding attitudes towards chastity?
Buss et al. (1989) found that the majority of Western, individualistic cultures regard chastity as 'irrelevant'.
What can be concluded from the findings of Buss et al. (1989)?
It can be concluded from Buss et al. (1989) that:
females value financial security and an older partner
males value physical appearance and youth
both males and females value partners who will give them a selective advantage in terms of reproduction
there are distinct cultural differences in partner preference
True or False?
One limitation of Buss et al. (1989) is its use of a large sample representing many countries and cultures, guaranteeing good external validity.
False.
One strength of the Buss et al. (1989) study is the use of a large sample representing many countries and cultures, guaranteeing good external validity.
What is the aim of Clarke & Hatfield (1989)?
The aim of Clarke & Hatfield (1989) is to investigate the difference in choosiness between males and females when sex is offered by a stranger.
True or False.
Clarke & Hatfield (1989) is only conducted at one time point.
False.
The Clarke & Hatfield (1989) study is conducted in 1978 and again in 1982 using the same number and gender balance of participants.
What is the procedure of the Clarke & Hatfield (1989) study?
The procedure of the Clarke & Hatfield (1989) study involves using 5 female and 4 male confederates positioned around Florida university campus. Each confederate separately approaches an attractive student and says: “I’ve watched you around campus, I find you very attractive” followed by either:
“Would you go out with me tonight?”
“Would you come over to my apartment tonight?”
“Would you go to bed with me tonight?”
What are the results of Clarke & Hatfield (1989)?
The results of Clarke & Hatfield (1989) are:
50% of both males and females said yes to a date
69% of males and 0-6% of females said yes about going to the apartment
75% of males said ‘yes’ to having sex compared to 0% of females
What conclusion can be drawn from the results of Clarke & Hatfield (1989)?
The conclusion that can be drawn from Clarke & Hatfield (1989) is that there does appear to be a difference in choosiness when it comes to being propositioned sexually, with females demonstrating much more caution than males .
True or False?
One strength of Clarke & Hatfield (1989) is the use of a laboratory experiment, increasing the ecological validity.
False.
One strength of Clarke & Hatfield (1989) is the use of a field experiment with naïve participants, increasing the ecological validity.
What are the possible ethical issues within the Clarke & Hatfield (1989) study?
The possible ethical issues within the Clarke & Hatfield (1989) study are:
the confederates are able to act on any ‘yes’ responses which could have put them in a difficult position
the participants may be embarrassed with the request for sex
the participants cannot give informed consent or be given the the right to withdraw