Psychology 3228 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Dating, Cuckold, Ovulation

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 3228
• Professor: Caroline Strang

Document Summary

Positive correlation between attractiveness, femininity and fertility. Men can use attractiveness as a proxy for assessing fertility. Certainty of paternity cryptic ovulation and consistent female sexual receptivity reduces effectiveness of mate-guarding or exclusion of other males from fertile females increased uncertainty of paternity. Marriage/ monogamy: repeated sexual contact throughout ovulatory cycle may increase certainty of paternity, marriage/ socially-recognized unions promote exclusive sexual relationships and increase certainty of paternity. Potential mate preferences: premarital chastity, post marital fidelity. Preference for sexual virgins could reduce levels of cuckoldry and investment in unrelated offspring. There is a lot of cross cultural inconsistency in preference for premarital chastity. There is no case however that women prefer premarital chastity more than men. Cultural variation appears to be tied to the economic independence of women. It is unlikely that is preference for premarital chastity is adaptive and would be willingly chose: more likely to be a consequence of our society.