BIOLOGY 101 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Labia Minora, Moral Reasoning, Spasm

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22 Mar 2016

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Placing human behavior into evolutionary context gives us a way to view ourselves not as unique but as one example of sexual behavior among many others. Awareness of evolutionary background of our behaviors can inform out choices. With this knowledge, we can make conscious choices that are not bound to legacy of our past. So, after all, what is sex for and why is it so fun. Posterior pituitary: oxytocin, stimulates uterine contraction, milk let-down, feelings of nurturance, vasopressin, social behavior and bonding when released into brain. Anterior pituitary: gonadotropic hormone, stimulates sex hormones, and gamete production, prolactin, stimulates milk production. Adrenal cortex: sex hormones, stimulate reproductive organs and sex characteristics. Adrenal medulla: epinephrine and norepinephrine, stimulate muscle and increase heart rate. Serotonin: produced by brain, function mood, sleep, memory, need for food. Present in most animals and function in establishing dominance relationships.

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Learning Objective: Compare and contrast two approaches of evolutionary psychology on human behavior

Best practice to participate in the discussion boards is to read the articles and consider the following questions. Then go to the discussion board and talk amongst yourselves; don't forget to post a minimum of a paragraph and reply to a colleague.

1. Some evolutionary psychologists, such as David Buss, suggest that men are more promiscuous than women. Man are hardwired for sex, wanting to have sex with as many women as possible. This is an evolutionary advantage, which gives men the opportunity to impregnate as many women as possible (i.e. to spread their seed). In addition, men prefer to have sex with women that are younger and have an hourglass shape. Both youth and a curvy figure are evolutionary signifiers of reproductive health. Buss also suggests that women are more selective in their mating and dating preferences. While men have a tendency to want to sleep around, women are choosier. Why? Because men have the ability to impregnate many women, while women can only have one offspring at a time. It is evolutionarily advantageous for women to be picky about their mates. What kind of mate to women prefer? They prefer mates with power and resources; men who can provide for the survival of their offspring. For our early ancestors this meant a man who could "bring home the bacon" now this means a man who brings home the money. Feminist evolutionary psychologists think this is just ridiculous. This type of thinking just portrays men and women as stereotypes.

2. Critics of the above theory demand: show me the physiological evidence. Evolutionary theory is rooted in biology hence there must be physical evidence to substantiate a claim. Feminist evolutionary psychologists say: It's not men who want sleep around, in fact, it is women who are hard-wired to want to take on as many mates as possible. This is why society has spent so much energy trying to regulate female sexuality. What is the evidence? One: only maternity is 100%. Everyone knows for certain the identity of their mother, yet before the recent advent of testing, paternity was never 100%. In a communal living situation, all the men in the tribe would have to provide for a child because the possibility could be that child was their own. Two: women are multi-orgasmic, while men only have one orgasm and then their brain releases a chemical which causes them to fall asleep. As many know, women become active post-coitus. They want to talk and cuddle, while men want to nap. The suggestion here is that while men are sleeping it off on the bear skin rug, the women go to the next tent and have sex again with someone else. Finally, women have an organ designed specifically for sexual pleasure: the clitori. Men do not have such an organ. The existence of the clitori is a strong physiological indicator that supports the above assertion. How can you explain the existence of the clitori?

BIOLOGY 101 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Labia Minora, Moral Reasoning, Spasm

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