what women want by sarah saad. sexual selection goal: to promote good mating choices sexual...
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WHAT WOMEN WANT
By Sarah Saad
SEXUAL SELECTION
Goal: to promote good mating choices
Sexual Dimorphism:• the degree to which sexes differ
in physical characteristics• usually refers to size differences• Human males on average are
20% larger than females
EVOLUTIONARY BACKGROUND
Provisioning Hypothesis:
Claims that a dietary shift towards meat as well as sexual division of labor (i.e. men as hunters and women as foragers) led to pair bonding and increased male investment in child rearing
MATING PREFERENCES
David BussoConducted a study to determine which characteristics were universally favored by men and women in long-term partnersoSurveyed 10,000 participants from 37 culturesoCharacteristics were rated from 0 to 3, 0 being irrelevant and 3 being indispensable
Characteristic
Male rating for females
Female rating for males
Degree of sex difference
Degree of cross-cultural variation
Love 2.81 2.87 Low Low
Dependability 2.50 2.69 Low High
Emotional stability/maturity
2.47 2.68 Moderate Moderate
Pleasing disposition 2.44 2.52 Low High
Good looks 1.91 1.46 High Moderate
Ambition and Industriousness
1.85 2.15 High High
Good financial prospect
1.51 1.76 High Low
Favorable social status 1.16 1.46 Moderate Moderate
Chastity 1.06 .75 Low High
Long-term Mate Choice Preferences
FINANCIAL RESOURCES, INDUSTRIOUSNESS AND SOCIAL STATUS
Women favored social status, industriousness and financial resources more than men did Resources can be assed
• directly by a his job, car or other inclinations of financial well-being
• Indirectly by his social status and level of industriousness
Evolutionary psychologists claim that this arose because ancestral women benefitted greatly from choosing mates that could provide for their offspring
FINANCIAL RESOURCES, INDUSTRIOUSNESS AND SOCIAL STATUS
The degree of difference between women’s and men’s preference for financial resources varies culturally In cultures in which women have greater financial independence, male status and resources are valued lessIn India, Iran and Nigeria, there is more emphasis on male financial resources than in South Africa and Holland
PREFERENCE FOR GOOD LOOKS
Buss’ findings show that women prefer good financial resources and high social status to good looksThese qualities are usually achieved later in life for men, so older men are usually preferred Gandestad and Buss (1993): there is greater emphasis on male physical attractiveness in areas where parasites are most common
• Facial and body symmetry are believed to be good indications of health and parasite resistance
PREFERENCE FOR GOOD LOOKS
Despite a preference for economic means, women do have defined attractions to certain physical featuresDixon (2003) found that women in Britain and Sri Lanka prefer lean, muscular body types and would favor a skinny body type over a heavy body type
• Muscular men are particularly preferred as short term partners and especially by ovulating women
Broad shoulders relative to waist size are preferred, the “V-shape”Chest hair is also preferred
PREFERENCE FOR GOOD LOOKS
Interestingly, while women tend to prefer masculine body traits, promoted by testosterone, they do not prefer masculine facial featuresJohnston (2001) found that men with masculine facial features were thought to be less investing as fathers when compared to men with less masculine facial features
PREFERENCE FOR GOOD LOOKS
Jedlicka (1980) found that offspring of parents of mixed ethnicity tended to marry individuals who resembled their opposite-sex parentSocial pressure could have played a role as well
WHAT IS LOVE?
Buss’ study ranked love as the most important requirement in long-term relationships, but what is its purpose?Love is defined as an intense feeling of deep affectionIt is essential to long-term relationships because it signifies commitment and dedicationIts ultimate function is to foster and ensure parental investment from both parents
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGZalfcrwSU&feature=related
SHORT TERM DATING
Clark and Hatfield (1989) studied casual sex on a university campusThey had attractive coeds ask the opposite sex to sleep with them75% of males agreed0% of women agreedWhile men view this as an opportunity for sex, women see it as a threat and an insult, possibly because they have “more to lose”
SHORT TERM DATING: EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIRS
Buss has asserted that under certain conditions, multiple pre-martial or post-marital matings can be beneficial Between 20-50% of married women have extramarital affairs in the United StatesEvolutionary psychologists have suggested that women can benefit, materially and genetically, from casual sex in much the same way as chimps and baboons do in the process of resource extraction Baker and Bellis (1998) found that the men that married women had extramarital affairs tended to be of higher status than their husbands
QUESTIONS
As women become more independent financially and socially, how do you think their preferences for long-term partners will change?
To what extent do you believe cultural and social pressure affect these preferences or dating strategies?