PSYC 5 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Evolutionary Psychology, Estrous Cycle, Libido
Document Summary
Evolutionary psychology explains psychological traits as adaptions including differences between women and men. Contemporary mating strategies between the sexes differ, but love and kindness are highly valued by both men and women. Which sex most naturally" tends towards monogamy: consider estrus (person is on heat), male/female orgasm, conception, but these aren"t always true, men could be at the lower end. Sex differences in spatial and verbal skills. Early 20th century debates over women"s intellectual aptitude now replaced by discussions of sex-based aptitudes (and gender roles). Variance within groups (male or female), far outweighs variance between the two. A bewildering number of studies confirm some gender differences, but raise more questions than they answer. Men and women overlap more than they differ. The differences are very little at the end. Yes, we are different but not that much. Past brain research has fit into preconceived ideas about men"s and women"s roles.
