ANT211H5 Lecture 10: November 30th Human Psychology and the Pursuit of Fitness
Document Summary
If there is a huge differential between males and their resources. Males: value virginity- unique to humans, other primates males value females with evidence of reproductive success, choose youth & health, but not necessarily peak fertility. Bateman"s principle- because females have greater parental investment and limited through physiology they should be more selective than males in partners. Females: greater parental investment, maximum reproductive potential < males, greater selectivity in mates. Increased parental investment: greater concern over female fidelity and prevention of cuckoldry. Male-male competition leads to: men monopolizing particular women, assuring their paternity of those women"s children, while remaining alert to extramural low-cost sexual opportunity. Homosexuality covered in article by adrian something, 3 questions on exam. Do homosexual males exemplify the ultimate male sociosexual proclivity: more sexual partners, more casual sex encounters. Is it a nepotistic strategy: recourse for infertile & postreproductive couple, preferentially involves close relatives.
